2014 Sochi Olympics Media Guide Sponsors The U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation would like to thank its sponsors, suppliers and contributors for their support leading up to and at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games: In addition, the U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation supports the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Global Promise Fund for its contributions to the sliding community. 1 Glossary - Press Release: BMW designs Pgs. 3-4 new innovative two-man sled for Team USA - Men’s Bobsled History Pg. 5 - Women’s Bobsled History Pg. 6 - Skeleton History Pg. 7 - Athlete Bios Pgs. 8-60 4LU»Z)VIZSLK Pgs. 15-36 >VTLU»Z)VIZSLK Pgs. 37-48 :RLSL[VU Pgs. 49-60 - About Sochi Pgs. 61-62 Media Contact: Amanda Bird USA Bobsled & Skeleton [email protected] (518) 354-2250 2 Driven by technology !"#$%&'()*'$*&+$(**,-./(-&$/+,01.*$'2&%$3,4$5&.1$678$/,$9'&$./$/:&$;<=>$7,?:($@2A1B(?' O n and off the track, the world of bobsled is USA Bobsled assistant coach and two-time Partenkirchen Olympics. Last year in Lake Placid, global design for BMW Group DesignworksUSA. a new sled is have them lift up the front so I can performed in action. persistently moving at an accelerated pace. With Olympian. “The technology and design elements N.Y., Steve Holcomb and Steven Langton became “With our two-man bobsled project, the ethic of pull on the D-rings to see how much or how little I A group of USBSF’s bobsledders were able to continuous technological advancements and ever that were used to engineer our sleds have made the first American two-man bobsled team to ever EfficientDynamics applies in a very similar way, need to pull before taking trips.” test out an improved prototype of the new sleds, improving training methods, the race to find the them as light and as aerodynamic as possible. win gold in the World Championships. Holcomb and the performance advantages we’ve been Over the last two years, BMW has worked with which included new autoclave-cured carbon fiber next competitive advantage is intensifying. This sled pushes the envelope for Team USA by also piloted Team USA to its first Olympic gold in able to extract with the bobsled aren’t singular USBSF athletes like Meyers and Cunningham to cowlings, in actual competitive events in January Heading into the 2014 Sochi Olympics, Team using the latest advancements in automotive the four-man in 62 years at the 2010 Vancouver in nature: they’re the sum total of hundreds of ensure that the sleds are best optimized for and February. Using the World Cup results and USA hopes to hold that advantage in the two-man technology.” Olympics. small nuances and details which come together to their needs. continued feedback of USBSF athletes, BMW event. To further advance the performance of its With the new sleds, Team USA is aiming to win To build the new sleds, BMW has applied its create one thing: speed.” “As an automotive company, it was important delivered its final generation of these new sleds world-class athletes, USA Bobsled and Skeleton its first Olympic medal in the two-man event in 62 automotive knowledge to optimize each sled’s Specifically, BMW has increased the speed of to BMW that our design team work closely with in October. (USBSF) has been working in collaboration with years. Considering that every pilot currently on the maneuverability and increase each sled’s overall the new sleds by redistributing each sled’s weight USBSF to ensure that this bobsled would address To ensure optimum performance, BMW long-time automotive maker and innovator BMW to U.S. National Team has won a World Cup medal, speed. Through this, BMW has created a strikingly placement, lowering each sled’s center of gravity their core needs and criteria,” Scully said. “While continues to modify the new sleds, while remaining completely redesign USBSF’s two-man sleds. Team USA will enter the 2014 Sochi Olympics with fast bobsled. and by using lightweight materials such as carbon we brought years of engineering and design in close communication with USBSF’s athletes. “As Olympians, teaming up with BMW is an arguably the most talent it has had in decades. “This is the fastest sled out of the box that we fiber. While upholding to International Bobsleigh expertise to the project, we ultimately looked to USBSF’s sled mechanics are constantly seeking exciting venture. We share the same passion Not only does Team USA have a chance to have ever seen,” said Darrin Steele, USBSF CEO. & Skeleton Federation regulations, BMW’s totally the USBSF team to inform and focus our process. athlete feedback and are making conscious efforts for precision and execution that BMW does in win a medal, but it may also win its first Olympic “Overall, it’s a homerun.” redesigned sleds give Americans the ability to After testing its first prototype on 69 virtual to spend time with the athletes in order to better developing their vehicles,” said Michael Kohn, gold in the two-man since the 1936 Garmisch- BMW has accomplished the new feats in go faster while also attaining newfound levels of runs through BMW’s state of the art Computational understand the rigors of training and competition. aerodynamics by applying its EfficientDynamics to control on the track. Fluid Dynamics (CFD) technology, the design team “I speak with our mechanics every day about its bobsled designing process. “The first time I was in the new BMW sled, I felt delivered the first sleds to USBSF athletes in any adjustments that need to be made, whether “In automotive terms, EfficientDynamics is not like I could take it anywhere on the track I wanted March 2012 and subjected each sled to a series of it’s my riding position or the steering,” said Elana the definition of one specific feature or a specific to,” said Nick Cunningham, 2014 Olympian and intensive head-to-head tests against USBSF’s Meyers, 2010 Olympic bronze medalist in the two- part found on a vehicle, but rather, the overall pilot for USA II. “If I wanted to take a higher line in existing sleds. woman. “Now, I’m very involved in the evolution of range of functions that work together to increase a turn, I could set the sled to do it. I feel like I am “BMW had [its] engineer spend almost a the sleds to make them go even faster.” vehicle efficiencies (like lower fuel consumption piloting a jet every time I get in the sled.” month with the team during our team selections This February, Team USA will have all of the and emissions) without sacrificing performance While the new sleds are far more aerodynamic training and races to continue to work with us tools in place to make a statement at the 2014 qualities,” said Michael Scully, creative director of than the previous ones, Team USA’s bobsledders directly. They asked us about how we felt with the Sochi Olympics. With a year of experience to still need some time to adapt to the new sleds sleds, what things we still needed, how they were work with BMW’s new highly aerodynamic sleds and their technical changes. All bobsleds steer running on the different tracks and explained some combined with its world-class athletes, Team and handle differently down the track and have of the equipment specifics to us,” said Jazmine USA is aiming, at the very least, to bring back different push bar sizes and body sizes. These Fenlator, 2014 Olympian and pilot for USA III. America’s first Olympic medal in the two-man differences affect how each bobsledder pushes, When Scully and his team began this project event since the 1952 Olso Olympics. With a 5:('$('$/:&$3.'/&'/$ loads on to, and drives the sled. By working with over two years ago, they completely reevaluated solid performance at the Games, the partnership L the sleds more than a year prior to the Olympics, USBSF’s 20-year-old sled model. The crew looked between USBSF and BMW could forever alter the '2&%$,9/$,3$/:&$E,F$/:./$ the athletes should be comfortable enough to into the sled’s aerodynamics, chassis and steering, sport of bobsled and the approach teams take in +&$:.-&$&-&4$'&&*G compete with them in Sochi. and how the athletes actually fit into the sled. As a designing their sleds. “It usually takes a few loads and trips down former racecar driver himself, Scully and his team the track to fully feel out a sled,” said Cory Butner, utilized elements of BMW’s automotive testing 0$H.44(*$7/&&2&G$678$!,E'2&%$M 2014 Olympian and pilot for USA II in the two-man. technology, including a full size wind tunnel and .*%$7I&2&/,*$JK@$ C1.)&$?,94/&'A$,3$!"#$D,4/:$81&4(?. “The first thing I have the brakeman do when I get CFD (computer analysis) to analyze how each sled 3-4 men's Bobsled History Men’s bobsled transitioned from being a recreational activity to a competitive sport in the late 1800’s. 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