You do not speak for me, Nick Matkovich. On one point alone do we agree. The television coverage of the Olympics is notorious. I was in Torino for the Games. My best friend, Elli Ochowicz, is a speed skater who competed in the 500m and 1,000m races in Torino. She was my main focus at the games, but I saw other events like the U.S. women take on Finland in hockey. In Torino, I hardly heard anything about the fight between Shani and Chad. The Bode disappointment was overshadowed by the amazing skiing by other nations. Your issue is with the American media. Do not take out your irritability on the athletes. The Olympics are about peace, passion and sportsmanship. It is a chance to take on the world's best and still shake hands with your worst enemy in the end.

I was granted access to the Olympic Athletes' Village in Torino. The first thing you see as you walk in is a wall signed by every athlete and resident in the village. It states that the athlete vows to keep peace and compassion during the Olympics in hope of spreading those values throughout the world. I care about the Olympics because I want to see the spirit of peace and camaraderie spread beyond the Games. I saw it first hand at Salt Lake City and Torino. I know it is possible, and I leave every Olympics feeling a love for humanity I could never describe in words.

My friend Elli has devoted every moment of every day since she was 13 to training for speed skating. She left her family and friends in Wisconsin to live in Salt Lake City to train for their Games. She has given nearly 10 years of her life to a sport that is hardly valued in the United States. She has to fight for contracts with corporations like Nike so she can finance the outrageous cost of her sport. Elli does all of this for her love of skating. She has an insurmountable passion for the Games and all they represent. She gets 30 seconds of spotlight on the Olympic ice and a 23rd place finish quickly shuns the spotlight away — 10 years of work for 30 seconds of redemption. You want to take away her moment and spit on her dreams.

You do not speak for me. I care about the Olympics and its message of peace. I care that Shani Davis is the first African American to win an individual Olympic gold medal and is breaking down racial stereotypes. I care about people who do not get a full scholarship to school or millions of dollars for playing a sport. I care about Elli Ochowicz and all the other athletes who never medal but are extraordinary, simply by being an Olympian. You do not represent everyone's opinion and neither do I; however, I know there are 45 people in my Facebook group entitled "We Support Olympian Elli Ochowicz." More than seven people watched and enjoyed the Games and there is my proof. Elli will race in the 2010 Vancouver Games and I plan to again be right by her side.

I will remember Shaun White, Derek Parra, Marianne Timmer and Johnny Weir. The only name I will not remember is yours.