WHISTLER, British Columbia – With one more perfect run down sliding’s most intense track, Steven Holcomb drove USA-1 to the Olympic gold medal in four-man bobsledding on Saturday, ending a 62-year drought for the Americans in the event.
It was the first gold medal for the U.S. in sliding’s signature race since Francis Tyler won one for the Americans at St. Moritz in 1948.
Holcomb’s four-run time was 3 minutes, 24.46 seconds, with Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomasevicz pushing for him again — just as they did in winning the world championship a year ago.
”This is bigger,” U.S. Coach Brian Shimer said.
The U.S. had never been closer to being kings of the bobsled mountain — until now.
Minutes after it was over, Tomasevicz pulled off Holcomb’s hat, planting a smooch on his pilot’s bald, sweaty head.
Sealed with a kiss, it was, and then the four men stood atop the podium for the flower ceremony at trackside and did what’s known as the ”Holcy Dance,” the little shuffle step that Holcomb does to keep his team laughing.
From there, Holcomb hugged anyone he could wrap his giant arms around.
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