Where do bobsledders train in August? Southern California, of course.
NBC 7 in San Diego caught up with 2010 Olympic champion Steve Holcomb, who’s preparing for Sochi Games on the sizzling track at the Olympic Training Center in Chula Vista, Calif.
In Vancouver, Holcomb piloted the Night Train sled to the U.S.’ first men’s bobsled gold medal since 1948. In Sochi, he’ll try to become the first American to repeat at the Olympics since 1932.
“Going into Sochi, we’re all now experienced, we’ve all been there,” Holcomb, 33, said of his crew. “We know not only what it takes to be an Olympian, not only what it’s like to be in that pressure of the Olympics, but now we know what it’s like to win.”
Three of the four members of the Night Train are still there -- Holcomb, Justin Olsen and Curt Tomasevicz. Steve Mesler, the fourth, has retired. He’s been replaced by Steve Langton, a part of the USA-2 sled in Vancouver.
The Night Train itself is a little different, too. Holcomb received a new version of the Bo-Dyn sled in March.
“It’s called the Night Train squared, not the Night Train two, because it’s exponentially better,” Holcomb said.
So, what are Holcomb’s chances of winning another Olympic gold? Well, he’ll have to break a four-year drought. Holcomb hasn’t won a World Cup or World Championship race outside of North America since 2009. The favorites, for now, are Russian, German and Latvian four-man teams.
Win or lose, Holcomb’s patented celebration, the Holcy Dance, may not make another appearance.
“I haven’t figured out what we’re going to do yet,” Holcomb said. “The Harlem Shake might be a little weird.”