Local orthopedic surgeon named physician to London Olympics

Helping athletes during their moment on the world stage

Crested Buttian and orthopedic surgeon Dr. Gloria Beim will head across the pond this summer, where she will be a physician for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. It’s a unique opportunity to support world-class athletes during the performances of their lives.

“There is nothing more exhilarating than caring for this group of exceptional athletes and human beings,” Dr. Beim says. “There is such awesome positive energy flowing everywhere and when you have a chance to affect an athlete’s performance even in the smallest way, it feels pretty amazing.”
It won’t be the first time Dr. Beim has supported Olympic-caliber events. She began volunteering for the U.S. Olympic Committee in 2001 at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs, and has since traveled to Italy, Greece, Turkey and Mexico in various medical roles—including as a team physician for the cycling and taekwondo teams at the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
It was in Athens that she had one of her most memorable experiences, marching with the United States Team during the opening ceremonies.
The security team warned the team ahead of time that the United States was not very popular around the world at that time; the crowd might boo or hurl things into the stadium when they entered.
“We were reminded to keep our heads held high and be proud to be representing our country and not lower ourselves to anyone who should treat us dishonorably,” Dr. Beim recalls.
But the team walked through the tunnel, and the Greek volunteers chanted “U.S.A! U.S.A!” again and again. The team’s energy surged, and when they cleared the tunnel and walked into the stadium it was the loudest and largest Dr. Beim had ever seen. The crowd was warm and energetic—it felt, she says, like a wave of love and hugs washing over them.
“There were no politics felt there. There was an honest respect for all of the athletes from every country present. It was just the love of pure sport and the true meaning of the Olympic Games,” she says.
The opportunity to return to the 2012 summer games comes after Dr. Beim had to turn down the role of team physician at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing—her son was born just days after she would have traveled to China. In London she’ll serve as venue medical director, spending a full two weeks preparing before the games even begin. In addition to her duties as physician she will help run the High Performance Center.
Dr. Beim will be in London from July 15 through August 14, for which she gives much credit to her medical practice partner Dr. Rhett Griggs, who will be working double time to ensure the Gunnison Valley and beyond continues to receive exceptional orthopedic care. Prior to arriving in London, Dr. Beim will have a chance to brush up on her English accent in preparation for the Olympics. She’s been a volunteer for USA Cycling since 1997, and she’ll heading to Birmingham, England in May as doctor for the U.S. team at the BMX World Championships.