At the approaching 1993 Special Olympics International Winter Games, held March 21-26 in Salzburg, Austria, Utah will unveil its second "Dream Team." Only this time, the dream being fulfilled belongs to three special athletes and not adoring fans or NBA scouts.

The special athletes comprising the Utah delegation are Tooele's Brent Benroth, Provo's Issac Jeppson and Ogden's Chad Huston. All three will compete in nordic skiing events and will accompany Utah State's Dave Bregenzer who was selected as a coach of the U.S. delegation.Team USA consists of 149 athletes and 28 coaches selected from a pool of more than 4,000 gold medal winners at 1992 winter competitions held in all 50 states. In their respective categories, Benroth, Jeppson and Huston represent the best that Special Olympics Utah has to offer.

Benroth, who will compete in the 1, 3 and 5 kilometer races, is the best cross country skier - period. Benroth is the only Utah Special Olympian who has mastered the skating technique which allows him greater speed than those who use the traditional kick-and-glide. In citizen races, pitted against non-disabled competitors, Benroth has consistently left the course with gold and silver medals.

His speed is readily acknowledged by his competition. They jokingly request permission to tie a rope around him so that they can take second place as easily as he seems to take first.

What Benroth is to technique and speed, Jeppson is to enthusiasm. At 15, he is the youngest member of the delegation. Born in Costa Rica, he was adopted by an American family who now plays a key role in his training. In Austria, he will ski the 1K, 3K and 5K.

Huston's strength is fitness. That isn't surprising considering he runs three miles a day, fulfills his dryland training requirements that include situps, pushups and streches, skis several times a week and will compete in the 3, 5 and 10 kilometer races.

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Although Huston's regimen is exceptional, each of the athletes is dedicated to training. Since May, when the three were selected for Team Utah, they have trained in their homes or on the snow when possible to prepare for Salzburg. That training regularly totals 10 hours or more per week.

"I have never seen any athletes train with the dedication, commitment and discipline that these athletes have demonstrated," marvels Bregenzer.

Each of the athletes is looking forward to an adventure in Austria. Jeppson seems to represent everyone's feelings when he says, "I really want to win, but just going to Austria is a prize."

Sounds like a dream come true.

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