Team USA Wins Bobsled Gold at 2010 Vancouver Olympics
February 28th 2010- By Bryan Cross
Steve Holcomb navigated the “night train” through the one of fastest courses in the world, and for the first time since 1948, the team from the United States stuck gold in the men’s four-man bobsled event.
With the victory, Holcomb, along with push men Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomaseviz joined the company of Francis Tyler and his team at the St. Moritz games as the last to claim gold.
“This will take a while for it to sink in,” Holcomb said after the race. “You work so hard and when you finally get there it’s like, `Well, now what? I don’t know what to do.’ We’ve worked so hard and gone through so much in the last four years. To end on a high note like this is huge. It’s overwhelming.”
The team won the 2009 World Championship, and now cement a place in history as Olympic champions.
“You can’t do any better,” remarked United States coach Brian Shimer.
Completing the combined four runs in 3 minutes and 24.46 seconds, the team was 0.38 seconds ahead of Germany and legendary driver Andre Lange. Lange was looking for his fifth career gold medal. Following Germany was the team from Canada.
“I’m good friends with Andre, so it’s a thrill,” Holcomb remarked. “And at the same time, it’s, `I didn’t mean to rain on your parade, but I have my own parade going now.”
The Americans entered the final race 0.45 seconds ahead of the team from Canada and driver Lyndon Rush. Holcomb knew that a solid run would cement them atop all other teams. Prior to the race he was surveying the track, and could be seen telling his teammates “one more.”
With a final run completed in 51.52 seconds, the United States got the one that they needed.
“They embarrassed the field,” Rush said. “They showed up in our backyard and it’s kind of like the theme of these Olympic Games. The Americans have shown up in Canada and whipped us.”
Other competitors embraced the United States victory, knowing that they have been so close to winning a gold medal several times prior.
“It’s a great thing for the U.S.,” Canada bobsled member Pierre Lueders remarked. “They’ve been competitive in bobsled for so long, but have been shut out quite a few times. He definitely is a talent, and I can’t wait to see how he’s going to do four years from now.”
With the medal, the United States now have 36 in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, leading over Germany with 29, and Canada with 25. Coming into the Winter Olympics, USA Online Sportsbooks installed Germany as the betting favorite to win the overall medal count.
