Steven Holcomb, U.S. bobsled gold medalist, has more than just fellow bobsledders in his sled. On the surface, it would appear that bobsled is quite simplistic. You have a giant bobsled, you wear spandex, you run, run, run along the ice until it seems time to jump in and then you go for an incredible ride.
Watch for upcoming blogs with NBC on the dynamics of the bobsled and how one pushes and jumps into the sled as well as a piece on how to drive an actual bobsled. For now, however, the focus on “team” is most important in bobsled.
Say the word “team” and most people will identify fellow teammates, coaches, trainers and the sport’s governing body as such. More enlightened sports fans will also include family. For Holcomb, however, medical assistance and sponsorship have rounded out his perfect team.
Bobsled is the single most expensive Olympic sports, beating out even Equestrian. Every penny is critical to training.
“Most people don’t realize how insanely large the bobsled tracks are, that they cost over $100 million in construction,” Holcomb said. Nor do people consider the cost of the upkeep for such a structure or that the bobsleds themselves can cost up to $300,000 or that the price of runners (bobsled blades) can cost more than most people’s homes.
“My mother had three jobs and my dad worked his fingers to the bone,” he said, speaking on personal costs of bobsled training. But Holcomb had another cost few knew about.
During the last Olympics, Holcomb brought home the first gold medal for men’s four-man bobsled in 62 years. In the years leading up to that moment, however, Holcomb had been losing his vision. Diagnosed with Keratoconus, a degenerative eye disease that can lead to severe vision loss, he had feared he would have to retire from the sport until he met Beverly Hills eye surgeon Dr. Brian S. Boxer Wachler, who treated Holcomb’s condition, and the rest is Olympic history. Today, Holcomb has teamed up with Dr. Wachler in a campaign called, “Miracle on Eyes,” to promote awareness about a new treatment for Keratoconus. Not only does this team want people to understand what the disease is but there is a treatment. For Holcomb, it is even more personal that people understand what medicines are available and that he present himself as a role model for others to seek help and achieve their dreams.
Enter Holcomb’s next unlikely teammate: DeVry University.
“My parents always wanted me to have an education but they also loved sports so I always found a balance between the two,” Holcomb said. “But there aren’t a lot of life skills you can take from bobsled and teach others. I can’t really go around the country teaching people how to drive a bobsled,” he joked, saying that when he officially leaves the sport of bobsled, “I need something to fall back on.” But with all his finances, emotional and physical focus on training, his options were few.
“We began working with the USOC (United States Olympic Committee),” said Amanda Geist, director of Partnership Marketing for DeVry University, “to partner with Olympic athletes to be an education provider.” Almost immediately, Holcomb responded. “He expressed interest in going to school through the program we have.” Now with more than 100 athletes from almost every discipline, “We were happily surprised how quickly the program has grown,” Giest said. “We just knew there was a true need for these athletes to be prepared for what came next when their athletic careers are over and we knew we were best prepared to help them be ready.”
While many countries pay their athletes to train for and participate in sport, the U.S. athletes have always had to rely on hardworking and supportive family members, community donations and, if lucky, a corporate sponsorship. For Holcomb, his Olympic winning team has even provided for a future.
To read the full article written by Alexandra Allred, please click here.
