From the Atlantic to the Podium

Lincoln, Neb. —Forty-six days alone on the Atlantic Ocean changed Taryn Smith's life. But it was her return home to the Cornhusker State Games—as a torchlighter, competitor and gold medalist— that brought her remarkable journey full circle.

While Smith's Atlantic crossing earned international attention, her return to the Cornhusker State Games revealed another side of her story. What began years ag…