SHOREVIEW, Minn. — Olympic sailor and Shoreview native Lara Dallman-Weiss is no stranger to spending her summers on the lake.
"I grew up on just taking lessons on White Bear Lake," Dallman-Weiss said. "My dad had taught himself how to sail and then I just took lessons and started sailing with him and just loved sailing on White Bear Lake."
Dallman-Weiss' passion for sailing brought her to Eckerd College down in Florida and after school she continued competing leading up to her first Olympics in Tokyo.
In Japan, she and her partner came in 12th but this time Dallman-Weiss is leaving some space in her carry-on to bring home the Gold.
KARE 11's Alicia Lewis caught up with her as she was packing for the games, where she was packing everything from Annie's Mac and Cheese to letters from mom and art from her brother. She made a point to bring her favorite plush stuffed animal, since she can't have a dog.
"I want a dog so bad but I can't because were always on the go so [the stuffed animal] is just good for the plane," Dallman-Weiss said.
She has been training and sailing in the South of France in Marseille. The mixed dinghy competition gets underway Friday, Aug. 2.
On Aug. 6, we are celebrating Lara's big accomplishment with a pep rally at the White Bear Lake Yacht Club with a live pep rally on KARE 11 Sunrise.