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Doc Patton retires, would likely consider bobsledding if asked

Doc Patton

Nike’s Darvis Patton (3526) reacts after winning the men’s invitational 100 meters at the Texas Relays, Saturday, March 30, 2013, in Austin, Texas. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)

AP

Lauryn Williams is doing her part to keep the track-to-bobsled conversion going.

Williams is a three-time Olympian and the 2004 Olympic 100m silver medalist. She took up bobsledding this year, one year after two-time Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones.

Another three-time U.S. Olympic sprinter, Doc Patton, recently retired from track and field.

“Lauryn was like, ‘You need to gain some weight and do some bobsledding now,’” said Patton, laughing, according to The Associated Press. “If they called, I probably would entertain it. I’m not going to lie to you.”

Patton, 35, won Olympic silver medals with the 4x100m relay team in 2004 and 2012. In 2008, he botched an exchange with Tyson Gay that disqualified the magic-marker U.S. relay team.

Patton took eighth in the 2008 Olympic 100m final in 10.03 seconds, a race won by Usain Bolt in a then-world record 9.69 seconds. Patton’s personal best was 9.89 run at the 2008 U.S. Olympic Trials.

Patton would not be the first American male track star to try bobsledding. The list includes Olympic champion 400m hurdler Edwin Moses, former 110m hurdles world record holder Renaldo Nehemiah and Super Bowl champion wide receiver Willie Gault.

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U.S. women’s bobsledders sponsored by Russian vodka

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