The Olympics celebrates sport and competition, but everyone knows that the Olympians celebrated most are those whose medals come with gripping personal stories that almost overshadow their physical achievements.

Alaska will boast three athletes when the Olympics come to China for the first time this week, and all three have stories worth telling.

One, that of basketball star Carlos Boozer of Juneau, 26, is already well known.

Another, that of rifle marksman Matt Emmons of Fairbanks, 27, may have been embellished amid all the pre-Olympic hype, but is close enough to the truth to perpetuate.

The third, that of trapshooter Corey Cogdell of Eagle River, 21, is known only by those familiar with her and her low-profile sport, but is full of heart-tugging moments a screenwriter would love. All it needs is a climactic scene where a medal gets draped around the heroine's neck.

It could happen.

Read the complete story at adn.com