PARIS, France — One of the leading doctors who helps keep Team USA athletes healthy during the 2024 Summer Olympics is from Colorado.
Dr. Gloria Beim is an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist with clinics in Gunnison, Crested Butte and Telluride. The walls of her Gunnison clinic are covered with Olympic memorabilia, and for good reason. She has traveled all over the world helping Team USA athletes at Olympic and Paralympic Games.
"So far, I have done three Olympic Games and four Paralympic Games," she said.
At each one, she has learned the language of the host country – from Greece to South Korea, and Brazil to Russia. She even took notes in London.
"My driver had all the rhyme and slang, and I was taking notes on how to speak like they do, and some of it I can’t say in front of you," she said.
Now she’s speaking French as she's in Paris for the 2024 Summer Olympics to help athletes with medical issues, anything from a cough to an ankle sprain to reducing a shoulder dislocation.
On one occasion, she had to help an athlete who had an unapproved logo on her uniform.
"I ran back and got my suture kit out and used 4O vicro, which you use to sew up someone’s face or something, and I ripped a piece of cloth off my shirt and quickly sewed up a patch," she said. "So I used my surgical skills. It wasn’t a injury. I ran back and put it on her. It was the most amazing moment of my life besides my two kids."
Beim said it is all part of the job to keep Team USA athletes competing at the Olympics.
"It’s the most exciting thing, and it’s such an honor to help represent my country," she said.