LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- It has been just over eight months since Steven Holcomb dominated the bobsled world championships. The American is ready to begin a new chapter in his remarkable career as the World Cup season begins on his home track at Mount Van Hoevenberg.
"The expectations are pretty high since we won here last February, but it's not something that I really think about or dwell on," the 32-year-old Holcomb said Wednesday after training. "We're still strong, and I have total confidence in my team going into this year. We're excited to start the competitive season now, and it's especially nice starting out on our home track. There's a level of comfort here. It really is home."
Holcomb, of Park City, Utah, won gold in both the two-man and four-man at the world championships and easily was the class of the field in four-man. Holcomb and his crew of Justin Olsen, Steve Langton and Curt Tomasevicz beat Germany's Maximilian Arndt by a half-second, while defending world champion Manuel Machata of Germany took the bronze, eight-tenths of a second behind Holcomb's "Night Train" bobsled.
Holcomb's triumph with Langton in two-man was a first for the United States at worlds since two-man began in 1931, and his string of success has been impressive.
Three years ago, Holcomb broke a 50-year gold-medal drought for America in four-man competition at world championships and took home the bronze in two-man. Two years ago, he
Pilots Nick Cunningham and Cory Butner join Holcomb on the men's side.
Elana Meyers will team with Olympic gold medal sprinter Tianna Madison in women's bobsled. Jamie Greubel and rookie Aja Evans shattered the Lake Placid track start record in team selection and figure to be in the mix, while Jazmine Fenlator and Olympic hurdler Lolo Jones, of Des Moines, Iowa, will be in a third sled. Fenlator and Jones had strong results together in the first national seeding race.
The U.S. team concluded last season with five medals at the world championships in Lake Placid, four of them gold. Besides Holcomb's haul, Katie Uhlaender won gold in women's skeleton, the U.S. won gold in the team event, and Meyers took the bronze in women's bobsled.
The World Cup skeleton season also kicks off at Mount Van Hoevenberg beginning Thursday with the first two heats for both the men and women. Skeleton concludes Friday with the final runs of the three-heat races, while women's bobsled and the men's two-man race also will be staged. The four-man race is Saturday.
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