Date of Birth:  April 10, 1976
	Place of Birth: Golden, BC
	Residence: Canmore, AB
Years on National Team:  9	Height:  5'6"
	Weight: 130 lbs.

Like her husband, Canadian slalom skier Thomas Grandi, Sara Renner also started to enjoy her best results relatively late in her career. Her surprise bronze medal in a sprint event at the 2005 World Championships in Germany was the first ever podium finish in a cross-country race at that level for a Canadian.

Combine that with the World Cup bronze medal she won in front of a home crowd in Vernon, BC and the silver medal she picked up with teammate Beckie Scott in the sprint relay in Canmore early in the 2005-06 season, and suddenly Renner is a skier to be reckoned with every time she goes out on a course.

The British Columbia-native first learned to ski out of necessity. As a four-year-old, her parents decided she was old enough to ski the 28 km of backcountry trails to their remote mountain lodge. From those days forward, the youngster would always be most comfortable on a pair of skis.

She would join the renowned Jackrabbit Ski League as a child in Canmore, before going on to a stellar career in the Canadian junior ranks. In 1998, she would compete at her first Olympics in Nagano, with a 54th placing as her best result.

Four years later, and after two painful bouts with Graves Disease, Renner would compete at the Salt Lake City Games, where she would ski four races, finishing with three Top-20 results.

Considering the steady improvement in each of her previous Olympics, perhaps the 2006 Games in Turin will give her a chance to add to her suddenly growing collection of medals.


Related Headlines:
February 17: Lots of e-mails, but no hug
February 15: Thank you, Norway!
February 15: Welcome to big stage
February 15: Grandi excited about silver
February 15: Silver spurs Canmore cheers
February 14: Silver sprint for Scott, Renner
February 8: Spirit becomes one
February 8: Canadian couples in Turin

2006 Xcountryskiing Coverage