By Amanda Bird U.S. Bobsled & Skeleton Federation
LAKE PLACID, N.Y., (11/21/09) -- Former Vermont National Guardsman John Napier’s first World Cup medal will be draped around his neck in front of an adoring home crowd Nov. 21.
Napier, only 23-years-old, shocked a competitive international field of 25 sleds by claiming gold in today’s two-man bobsled World Cup competition in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Men’s bobsled coach and 2002 Olympic bronze medalist Brian Shimer greeted Napier at the finish, grinning like a proud father.
“Is this what it always feels like,” Napier asked Shimer. The two shook hands before embraces from the U.S. team swallowed Napier on the finish dock.
The young pilot edged out teammate Steven Holcomb, who is a former member of the Utah National Guard, for the win with a convincing lead of 0.26 seconds after sliding a combined time of 1:53.62. The closest Napier has ever come to the World Cup podium was a fifth place result in Park City, Utah’s four-man event last season.
“I relied on great guys like Steve Holcomb that have been there before about what it feels like, and I asked him what the heck do I do,” said Napier. “He told me to just hang out and chill out and act like it’s a practice run. So I did.”
Holcomb was one of the first athletes to congratulate Napier at the finish before the two U.S. pilots joined each other on the podium.
“I told Napier to relax between heats,” said Holcomb. “I told him to try not to think about it. The more you think about, the more pressure you put on yourself, and the harder it is. I tried to keep him calm and let him do his thing on his home track.”
Napier teamed with Chuck Berkeley (Clayton, Calif.) for a push time of 5.16 and finish time of 56.75 seconds to lead a field of competitors with sliding resumes filled with Olympic and World Cup accomplishments after the first heat. With the support of his team, Napier was able to maintain his composure to keep his lead.
Berkeley and Napier pushed a second run push time of 5.14 and stopped the clock in 56.87 seconds for the victory. As the duo crossed the finish line, the crowd erupted with excitement.
Napier’s mom, Betsy, was at the finish waving around a cowbell the size of a basketball that she bought in Innsbruck, Austria several years ago. Napier took a moment to remember his father, William, who was a former president of the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation as a well as an accomplished bobsled pilot before passing away from cancer in June 2005.
“I have so much support back here, it’s great to be on my home track,” said Napier. “I was up in the old 1980 start house thinking about how ironic that 30-years ago my father was in there warming up.”
Napier is continuing his family tradition in the sport, and is currently ranked fourth in two-man bobsled World Cup standings after today’s performance.
Holcomb teamed with his World Champion teammate Justin Olsen (San Antonio, Texas) for the silver medal with a two-run total of 1:53.88. The duo pushed a start time of 5.15 for a first run of 57.07 seconds.
“We had some issues in the first run,” said Holcomb. “I think I was overdriving it a little bit, which is not fast.”
Holcomb and Olsen powered off the block with a 5.13 in the second heat, and Holcomb piloted his Night Hawk BoDyn sled to the finish with the fastest run of the final heat, 56.81 seconds.
“I let it fly in the second run and it worked,” said Holcomb. “It was a great day for the U.S., and I can’t believe we finished one, two. It’s awesome.”
Mike Kohn, a member of the Virginia National Guard, finished ninth today as the third U.S. sled entered into today’s competition. Kohn teamed with Nick Cunningham of Monterey, Calif., for a total time of 1:54.69.
“I’m pleased with being in the top ten,” said Kohn. “It’s bittersweet because I’m replacing Todd Hays, which is not the way I wanted to get here. But we’ll do the best we can. I’m also very excited about Napier’s win.”
Hays injured his left hamstring while loading into the sled during last weeks’ four-man competition in Park City.
Kohn and Cunningham pushed start times of 5.22 and 5.25 for runs of 57.53 and 57.16 seconds, respectively. Kohn, a 2002 Olympic bronze medalist with Shimer, offered some advice to Napier before the second heat.
“We don’t talk about bobsledding,” said Kohn. “I used to tell him to think about blue elephants. If you start thinking about it, you mess up. I’m really happy for him.”
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