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As the head of Salt Lake City's Olympic Organizing Commitee, Mitt Romney has become one of the most recognized men in Utah.
But few know much about his wife, Ann, and the private struggle they've waged together.
Olympics Specialist Shelley Osterloh has details.
When Ann and Mitt Romney moved to Salt Lake City nearly three years ago, they left behind 30 years in Boston.
He, a sucessful venture capitalist. She, active in the community and with many charities.
But life wasn't as rosy as it looked. Ann Romney was sick, and getting worse.
Ann Romney campaigned beside Mitt when he nearly unseated Senator Ted Kennedy.
And she was on the board of the United Way. But their last days in Boston were difficult.
Mitt Romney: "SHE HAD TO SPEND MOST OF THE TIME IN BED, HAD A HARD TIME WALKING AROUND, A LOT OF DIZZY SPELLS, SYMPTOMS OF A SEVERE FLU THAT JUST COULDN'T BE SHAKEN."
Ann Romney: "THEN I GOT REALLY, REALLY SICK RIGHT BEFORE WE CAME OUT. AND I WAS IN THE HOSPITAL, AND ON I.V. STEROIDS, AND PRETTY SICK."
Shelley Osterloh: "YOU MUST HAVE BEEN FURIOUS WITH MITT FOR DRAGGING YOU OUT HERE WHEN YOU WERE SO SICK."
Ann Romney: "IT WAS MY IDEA. I CAN'T BLAME HIM."
"HE LOOKED AT ME-- 'YOU ARE SO SICK.' AND I'M LIKE, 'I'LL BE OKAY, I CAN BE AS SICK IN BOSTON, AS I CAN BE SICK IN SALT LAKE, I DON'T CARE.'"
Few outside their close family and friends knew, but Ann Romney suffers from Multiple Sclerosis.
With her sons grown, and husband in a demanding new job, Ann pursued a childhood dream: She bought a horse and despite her failing health, started riding lessons.
Ann Romney: "AND THE THOUGHT OF GETTING ON A HORSE WAS SO EXCITING. I WOULD FORCE MYSELF OUT OF BED AND I'D COME OUT HERE. I COULD TROT MAYBE ONCE AROUND THE ARENA AND THEN I'D BE FINISHED AND EXHAUSTED. BUT I'D FEEL GREAT."
Margo Gogan/Dressage Trainer: "IT COULD BE A BLIZZARD, AND ANN WILL BE HERE WITHOUT FAIL. SHE SAYS SHE'S GOING TO DO SOMETHING AND SHE WILL DO IT."
And gradually, through sheer determination, she began to feel better and stronger.
She bought another horse -- a Dutch Warm Blood from Germany named Gucci.
Her friend and trainer, Margo Gogan, rode Gucci in a recent regional dressage competition and won the championship with Olympic level scores.
Ann entered in the amateur division riding Baron and took second -- a remarkable feat for someone who has ridden dressage for less than three years.
In dressage, these highly athletic horses perform a series of intricate and difficult maneuvers... they skip or change the lead foot every third step,
or trot with a hoof paused in the air.
The rider communicates with only subtle movements.
Ann Romney: "IT'S HARD. I MEAN SOME DAYS I AM JUST EXHAUSTED. BUT IF I DON'T KEEP PUSHING, THEN I END UP BACK IN BED AND LOOK AT THIS. THIS IS PRETTY GOOD, PRETTY GOOD THERAPY, AND HE'S BEEN A WONDERFUL COMPANION."
Ann and Mitt joke about her obsession with horses.
Ann Romney: "HE WANTS TO CHECK ME INTO THE BETTY FORD CLINIC. BUT IT'S FOR HORSE ADDICTION. BUT THERE'S NO CURE, NO CURE."
And there is no cure for MS either, but for Ann Romney, there is hope.
She has overcome the more debilitating affects of her disease.
Her doctors, and her family, say her progress is remarkable.
She says the healthy atmosphere of her new home, and her new hobby, have helped.
ANN ROMNEY: "IT'S JUST A GIFT TO BE ABLE TO HAVE HORSES OF THIS QUALITY AND HAVE THEM HELP ME IN MY HEALING PROCESS."
Mitt Romney: "ANN IS MY SOURCE OF STRENGTH."
Ann Romney: "IT'S BEEN, IN MANY WAYS, A BLESSING FOR US TO BE HERE, BECAUSE I DON'T BELIEVE IF I'D STAYED IN BOSTON THAT I WOULD HAVE BEEN AS HEALTHY AS I AM."
Ann looks great. Her MS seems to be in remission.
Ann and Mitt also own two trail horses and on weekends they ride together on the trails around Park City.
