Locum tenens: fewer than 6 degrees of separation from Olympic Gold
Cries of "Torah, Torah, Torah!" were heard 'round the world last week, as a young snowboarder from Australia took the Gold in the Women's Halfpipe. After falling on her first run, Torah Bright, 23, knew it was win or lose as she approached her final try, and with an air of reckless abandon, Bright turned in a run that could not be topped on the world stage of the Olympics.
In a wild twist of fate, Torah Bright and Global Medical call the same place home - Salt Lake City, Utah. Seems obvious, as this is where you'll find the "Best Snow on Earth". It's also where Bright found her future husband, whom she plans to marry in June.
Bright's ties with Global go deeper still, as we have roots in the same cities and towns in Australia. Her birthplace - Cooma, New South Wales - has been a favorite adventure spot for numerous locum tenens taking a turn Down Under. Bright's hometown, which is nestled at the base of the Snowy Mountains (or the "Snowies"), is also home to the highest Australian mountain range and the Australian mainland's highest mountain - Mount Kosciuszko, which reaches 2,228 meters. Mainland Australia's only true Alpine region, the Snowies get large, natural snowfalls every winter during June, July and early August.
But how did Bright get from the Snowies of NSW Australia, to the Wasatch Mountains of SLC Utah, and then to Coast Mountains of BC Canada for the Olympic Games? When you're born in the Snowies, it sticks. By the age two Bright was on skis and by age eleven she emerged onto the snowboarding scene, turning pro at just 14. During the 2003-04 season, Bright was a runner up for the World Cup title, taking 30th at the 2005 World Championships in Whistler, Canada. In 2006, Bright became the only Australian to win a gold medal in the Winter X Games, beating US Olympic medalists Gretchen Bleiler and Hannah Teter.
In 2007, Bright won first prize at the Nissan X-Trail Nippon open, and her momentum continued when she edged out the 2002 Olympic Gold medalist, Kelly Clark, for the World Super Pipe Championships in Park City, Utah. Then that same year, she took the 2007 Ticket to Ride Snowboard Tour Championships.
At just 23, Bright's future is, well, bright. And while performing a stunning switchback 720 for a score of 45 out of 50 from th
e judges in her final run at the 2010 Winter Olympics was quite a feat, the real honor came when she was chosen to carry the Australian flag at the opening ceremonies - all of which has brought tremendous joy to the hearts of family and friends. It's also put Salt Lake City, Utah and Australia at the forefront of everyday conversation. Good on ya, Torah!