Demong Wins Gold, Proposes, Carries US Flag in Vancouver

27 February 2010

American Nordic Combined skier Billy DeMong

American Nordic Combined skier Billy DeMong has been chosen to carry the flag in the closing ceremonies for the U.S. Team Sunday at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver. The honor is just one of the amazing memories Demong will bring home from these Games.

It is certain that Billy Demong of the United States will never forget the Vancouver games. Not only did he and his teammates win the silver medal in the Nordic combined relay event, but he made history by becoming the first American to capture gold in the men's large hill event Thursday in Whistler.

Demong said winning the gold with teammate Johnny Spillane taking the silver was the achievement of a long-time goal. "Going out there, getting on the podium and then watching two American flags go up while the national anthem was playing, and then to turn and there was like - it seemed like two or three seconds, but it was probably two-10ths where Johnny and I made eye contact - it was like 'We did it,'" he said.

Shortly after winning his gold medal, the 29-year-old Demong surprised his girlfriend Katie Koczynski by proposing at the post-race celebration. Demong says he had the ring for a while, but thought Thursday was the right time to ask.

"Just kind of uh, just stepped off the cliff and said 'okay where's that microphone.' Made a short couple of comments and then put the mic down and dropped down on one knee and... I didn't really hear her answer, but she put it on willingly enough, so I took that as a yes," he said.