It's much like any other team, like a baseball team, a football team, where each year we have guys, older, veterans, all trying out for the same few spots. Each year, every summer they push athletes and drivers are evaluated on their speed and strength, and ability to push a sled. They run through a battery of tests. |
It's not going to be a sad thing. It's just part of life and I certainly can deal with it. |
It's time for me to move on. I'm not Michael Jordan or one of those guys. I'm not making a million dollars at this. 'Retire' is a pretty strong word for a bobsledder. It's more like I've got to find something else to do. Michael Jordan retires. Bobsledders find another job. |
It's time for someone else to have a chance. I had mine, and I'm thankful for it. I saw the world through my sled, but now it's time for the next challenge. |
My parents live 16 miles out on a dirt road and another mile on a different road. How the heck did they find the way out there? These guys are like the post office. Rain, snow, hail, they're there. |
Our chances are very good. There aren't but about five or six teams that will be right there for the medals. We have as good a chance as anybody. |
People don't realize the technological advantages that can make a difference. And there are rules, but great engineers seem to find the loopholes. And, of course, they don't want to expose that. You learn pretty quickly that you want to protect your intellectual property. |
The Germans have been winning races for a long, long time. They're on a whole other level. I'm hoping one day our program will get there. |
The old driver just didn't get it done again today. |
The only thing you can ask for in life is a chance. I had that today. I had it the last two Olympics. I got to win a silver medal in my home country. Unfortunately, I just didn't get it done for my team. It's not going to be a sad thing. It's just part of life and I certainly can deal with it. |
The pain was extreme. I still had to drive the sled down the track. I could feel the blood rushing out of my shoe. That's when I got concerned. I thought I'd lost a couple toes. |
This track is different. You've got to drive a lot more than I like to drive. I don't like to pull on the ropes. I like to let the sled fly. And it's really hurting me here in Italy. I can't get used to the idea of yanking the sled around and it's really killing my splits. |
Tomorrow will be my last two bobsled runs, and you'll see every ounce of energy that I have in this sport. I've got to try to do a lot better job for my teammates. |
Tomorrow will be my last two bobsled runs. I'm not getting any younger, and I don't think I'll be able to get it done in Vancouver when I'm 40. I have a medal but none of those guys do. I really, really wanted to get it done for those guys. They deserve a medal. |
Unfortunately it didn't go as I'd hoped. But fortunately I know there's a lot worse things in life than not finishing the Olympic Games with a medal. |