The Olympic Games seem like the perfect place to tell tales of dreams that have come true. The media grabs onto Cinderella stories, seeking that inspirational angle that can be found in athletes who weren’t expected to win. Stories of athletes who had previously fallen and, against all odds, rose to the top during the games, grab headlines. These are the stories of hope and triumph which people cling to and celebrate. However, there was one story that took place off the ice that really caught my eye. Hannah Teter, 2006 Torino gold medalist and 2010 Vancouver silver medalist in the women’s halfpipe, is a philanthropist who donates entire paychecks to people in need.

One look at Teter and you’ll see a free spirited young woman with bright eyes and a flashing smile. Don’t be fooled by her laid back and fun demeanor, though, this girl means business when it comes to using snowboarding as a stepping stone to helping others. Her charity, Hannah’s Gold, sells maple syrup, organic cotton, and hemp sweatbands with all proceeds benefitting World Vision, a Christian humanitarian organization dedicated to tackling the causes of poverty. She has raised $170,000 so far and has visited the village of Kirindon, Kenya where improvements have been made for clean water access, schools, and AIDS treatment.

Staying true to her creative and funky self, she’s recently created Sweet Cheeks panties, underwear that benefits the Doctors Without Borders organization’s efforts in Haiti. She’s also lent her name to Ben & Jerry’s. Yes, the ice cream company! She will be the first athlete to have a flavor named after her. What’s the flavor? Maple Blondie of course! A portion of the proceeds will go to help her charitable causes. And that’s not all! The list goes on with how Teter is using her success to reach out and give. Most recently, she has pledged to donate her Olympic winnings to the reconstruction effort in Haiti.

"I'd just like to see athletes awake. And aware," she told the Los Angeles Times. "There's so much going on and so much to know. . . . We stay in our little boxes and don't think much about the outside world.”

So Teter’s is the story that I’m going to cling to during these games. There are many heroes out there when it comes to athletics and entertainment. But rarely does one find someone whose off court or off screen personality and actions rise higher than the platform we put them on. With two Olympic medals and countless other competition wins, Teter shows that star status includes what you do as well as what you’re known for.

-Rae is a blogger for The Daily Vine. Check out her bio to see where her view comes from.

Source/Related Articles

Hannah Teter wins silver, Kelly Clark bronze in women's halfpipe, LATimes

Hannah Teter: Olympic silver medal, heart of gold, CS

Teter to donate money to Haiti, Washington Post

Olympian Hannah Teter looking for Eco-Friendly Sponsors, Ecorazzi

Olympians love to give their all in sport -- and philanthropy, SI