Nine Soldiers Officially Named to 2014 U.S. Olympic Team

Nine Soldiers Officially Named to 2014 U.S. Olympic Team

By Tim Hipps
Army Installation Management Command

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo., Jan. 27, 2014 - 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 through 24 in Sochi, Russia.



The U.S. 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 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," he continued, "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.

Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick becomes the first American to
compete at six Olympic Winter Games. The two U.S. Olympians headed to
their fifth Olympic Games are Billy Demong (Nordic combined) and Bode
Miller (alpine skiing). Only four other athletes in U.S. Olympic
history, including Lodwick, have competed in five or more Olympic
Winter Games.

Additionally, women's bobsled push athletes Lolo Jones - a two-time
Olympic hurdler - and Lauryn Williams - a three-time Olympic sprinter
- become the ninth and 10th Americans to compete at both the winter
and summer editions of the Olympic Games.

Highlighting this list of accomplished U.S. men's athletes are Miller
and long track speedskater Shani Davis. A five-time Olympic medalist,
Miller needs three medals to match U.S. short track speedskater Apolo
Anton Ohno as the most decorated U.S. Olympian in history on the
winter side.

Davis is making his fourth Olympic appearance after winning
consecutive Olympic gold and silver medals in the 1,000- and
1,500-meter events in 2006 and 2010. Both Davis and snowboarder Shaun
White will have the opportunity to become the first American man to
win three gold medals in the same event at consecutive Olympic Winter
Games.

Headlining the list of U.S. women's athletes are three-time Olympic
medalists Julie Chu (ice hockey) and Julia Mancuso (alpine skiing).
Mancuso already is the most decorated U.S. Olympic female alpine
skier, with one gold medal and two silver medals, while Chu is looking
to help Team USA reclaim the top podium spot for the first time since
women's ice hockey debuted at the 1998 Olympic Winter Games.

"This distinguished group of athletes represents the largest
delegation in the history of the Olympic Winter Games, which is a true
testament to the growing number of winter sport opportunities across
the United States," said Alan Ashley, chief of the U.S. mission and
USOC's chief of sport performance. "With 106 returning Olympians, this
year's team is an exceptional blend of youth and experience, and
represents the finest our nation has to offer. During the Games, we
will continue to support our athletes, coaches and National Governing
Bodies in every way possible to succeed."

The 2014 U.S. Olympic Team roster may still be adjusted due to injury,
illness or exceptional circumstances up to the technical meetings for
each sport.



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Related Sites:
Special Report: On the Road to Sochi

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Sean Eagan

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