The opening ceremony for the 2026 Winter Olympics is tonight and it got us thinking about what it takes to become one of the world’s most preeminent athletes—perseverance, determination and commitment.

It also takes something else: dreams. 

While many athletes dream of making it to the Olympics, only a few do so. 

Did you know—about 0.0000017% of the world’s population, or 1 in 500,000 people, will make it to the Olympics.

While not competing at the Olympic level, athletes from schools like Fallsburg, Liberty, Monticello, Rockland, Sullivan West and Tri-Valley and Eldred are active in national-level track and field.

Recently, the Indoor Track Championship at SUNY Sullivan was held and, on February 16, those students that qualify will compete at the Armory in New York City.

And Sullivan County has its own Olympic ties—Alice and Russell Hodge of Roscoe competed in track in field, making them the only mother-son duo in United States Olympic history.

And while it’s not the Olympics, we recognize Callicoon Center resident Doug Woods who is embarking on hiking the Appalachian Trail in its entirety (see story on page 1B). 

Woods had this dream ever since he was a kid, and now in his 60’s he’s making that dream come true. 

Drudging through snow, the elements and later—heat—all with a heavy backpack containing everything you need to survive is no easy feat. Woods prepared for this and is certainly full of determination. 

“Because in the end, you won’t remember the time you spent working in the office or mowing your lawn. Climb that [expletive] mountain.” ― Jack Kerouac