John F. Russell is the sports editor and a photographer for the Pilot & Today. He writes a sports column that appears Sundays. He has worked for the newspaper since June 1990.
John has a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Colorado and worked at the Longmont Times-Call during college.
John is from Denver. His hobbies include bowling, softball, photography, pinochle and following his two lovely children around.
Recent Stories
Steamboal riders trot toward competitive season in Scottsdale
For Legacy PR, and owner Mignon Stetman, February’s 55th annual Scottsdale Arabian Horse Show marked a strong start to a new season.
Steamboat's Johnny, Hilary Spillane expecting 1st child in fall
Lots of people are congratulating Johnny Spillane these days, and not just because he brought home three silver medals from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia. Johnny and his wife, Hilary, learned a few weeks before the start of the Olympics that they were going to have a baby.
John F. Russell: Here’s a good story
We came to British Columbia hoping to tell the stories of the athletes who call, or have called, Steamboat Springs their home. Olympic athletes are not unusual in Steamboat, where the next generation of world-class athletes always seems to be around the corner. For generations, our town has produced wave after wave of Olympic stars, including medal winners like Nelson Carmichael and Travis Mayer in freestyle skiing and Shannon Dunn in snowboarding.
Jarrett leads team to gold, passes credit to skiers
Coach has long-standing connection with top Nordic athletes
U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team coach Dave Jarrett handed down his humble personality and work ethic to many of the athletes he skied with — including Johnny Spillane, Billy Demong and Todd Lodwick. Jarrett is now the most successful coach in the history of the Nordic combined program.
Fletcher to get Olympic start today
Steamboat 19-year-old to compete in today’s large hill individual event
With two silvers in the Nordic team’s bag and a keen eye on the future, 19-year-old Taylor Fletcher will take Brett Camerota’s place in the large hill Gundersen individual event. The event begins with trial jumps at 10 a.m. and the competition jump round at 11 a.m. Mountain Standard Time.
US Nordic Combined Ski Team ready for today’s final event
The 2010 Winter Olympic Games are now down to one competitive jump and 10 kilometers of cross-country skiing for the members of the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team. The third and final Nordic combined event of the Olympics gets under way today with an 11 a.m. MST competitive jumping round. That will be followed by a 2 p.m. 10-kilometer cross-country ski.
Silver ends Lodwick's Olympic drought
Years of frustration end for Steamboat Springs Nordic skier
After 18 years, five Olympics and more setbacks than most athletes will see in a career, Todd Lodwick finally has his medal. “I’m going to wear it everywhere,” Lodwick said about the silver the Americans won Tuesday in the Nordic combined team event. "I’m going to cherish this medal.”
Nordic combined team competes in team event today
Ten days ago, the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team made history as Steamboat Springs’ Johnny Spillane raced to America’s first medal in the sport. But that’s old news. For the past week, the team has been busy preparing for today's Nordic combined team event, where instead of hopefuls, the four team members plan on being medal contenders.
US Nordic Combined Ski Team returns to Vancouver
Skiers say they appreciate the training period in Utah
It was back to work for the members of the U.S. Nordic Combined Ski Team on Saturday. The team returned to Whistler Olympic Park in British Columbia to begin preparing for Tuesday’s Nordic combined team event and Thursday’s large hill individual Gundersen.
U.S. ski jumpers miss medal round
Team members hope their efforts keep sport flying
Two Americans arrived at today's event with of making it into the top 30 and hopes of surprising the world with an Olympic medal. But after the first official round in the large hill event, the only Americans to move past qualification failed to make the cut.
