American Biathlete Sacrifices Olympic Spot for Twin Sister

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By Sam Laird2014-01-14 17:16:13 -0500

This just in from the department of feels: A biathlete realized her dream by earning a spot on the U.S. Olympic Team—only to forfeit her ticket to Sochi so her twin sister could join the squad.

No, this isn't the plot of a made-for-TV movie. But it is just one more reason to love the Winter Olympics.

Lanny and Tracy Barnes (pictured above) are twin sisters from Durango, Colo. They're 31 years old, although Lanny's got about five minutes on her little sister. They grew up in the heart of skiing country, then learned to shoot from their father, a hunter, as young children. (Olympic biathlon combines cross-country skiing and target shooting as competitors strive for both speed and accuracy.)

Lanny, Tracy and other 2014 U.S. biathlon hopefuls had their final qualifying races this past weekend, according to Team USA's official site. Tracy competed and earned a spot on the team. Lanny, however, fell ill and had to sit out three of the weekend's four tryout races — effectively disqualifying her from the competition.

But then Tracy did the most sisterly thing we've heard of in a long, long time: She declined her nomination to the biathlon team. Lanny was tapped to take her spot, and will be one of five female biathletes to represent the United States in Sochi, Russia, next month.

"I can't even begin to describe what it means to me that Tracy made such a huge sacrifice for me," Lanny told the Team USA site. "It's hard to put into words what she did and what it means to me. We have been training together every day for the past 15 years, and I know how hard she has worked to make this team. I think that her selfless act encompasses what an Olympian truly is."

Not surprisingly, the twins' mother is proud of the daughters she raised.

“It’s just really a selfless thing to do,” Deb Barnes told The Durango Herald . “She was fine with the decision.”

Tracy didn't quite give up the opportunity of a lifetime, however—both sisters competed for the U.S. at the 2006 Olympics in Italy, according to the Herald.

Nonetheless, a heart-warming story and one — no, make that two — good reasons to follow the U.S. biathlon team next month.