Nine Soldiers in the U.S. Army World
Class Athlete Program are members of the U.S. Olympic Team that will compete at
the 2014 Olympic Winter Games, scheduled for Feb. 7-24 in Sochi, Russia. The
United States Olympic Committee officially announced the team today. The
Soldier-athletes named to Team USA are 2010 Olympic gold medalist in four-man
bobsled Sgt. Justin Olsen, 26, of San Antonio; 2010 Olympic bobsledder Capt.
Christopher Fogt, 30, of Alpine, Utah; 2010 Olympic bobsledder Sgt. Nick
Cunningham, 27, of Monterey, Calif.; bobsledder Sgt. Dallas Robinson, 31, of
Georgetown, Ky.; 2006 Olympic luger Sgt. Preston Griffall, 29, of Salt Lake
City; and luger Sgt. Matt Mortensen, 28, of Huntington Station, N.Y. Three World Class Athlete Program, or WCAP,
coaches also will represent the U.S. Army in Russia. Team USA luge coach Staff
Sgt. Bill Tavares, 50, of Lake Placid, N.Y., will be making his sixth
appearance in the Olympics, including once as an athlete and five times as a
coach. Team USA skeleton coach Sgt. 1st Class Tuffield "Tuffy"
Latour, 45, of Saranac Lake, N.Y., will make his fourth trip to the Olympics.
He has coached U.S. and Canadian men's and women's bobsledders to Olympic
medals. Team USA assistant bobsled coach 1st Lt. Michael Kohn, 41, of Myrtle
Beach, S.C., is a two-time Olympic competitor who will make his Olympic
coaching debut at the Sochi Games. He won a bronze medal in four-man bobsled as
a WCAP athlete at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City. USA-1
bobsled driver Steven Holcomb, 33, of Park City, Utah, is the reigning Olympic
champion in the four-man event. He spent seven years in the U.S. Army World
Class Athlete Program. The 230-member team is comprised of 105 women and 125
men -- the largest athlete delegation for any nation in the history of the
Olympic Winter Games. The United States will be represented in all 15
disciplines across seven sports, and up to 94 of the 98 medal events that will
be contested in Sochi. "We are thrilled to announce the 230 athletes who
will represent Team USA in Sochi," said USOC CEO Scott Blackmun.
"This is the largest team we have ever sent to an Olympic Winter Games,
and I'd like to commend all of those who helped support our athletes in the
pursuit of their Olympic dreams. Most of all, this is a time to celebrate our
athletes, who have made countless sacrifices and dedicated themselves to being
their best, both on and off the ice and snow. I am very excited to watch them
compete as they represent our nation with excellence and distinction on the
world stage." The 2014 U.S. Olympic Team features 106 returning Olympians
-- including one five-time Olympian, two four-time Olympians, 10 three-time
Olympians and 23 two-time Olympians. Returning from the 2010 Olympic Winter
Games in Vancouver, where the U.S. finished first in the overall medal count
with 37 medals, are 99 U.S. Olympians. Overall, among the veterans are 49
Olympic medalists, 13 of whom are Olympic champions.
Written by Tim Hipps.
Retrieved on 28 January 2014.
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