Help Johnny Go For Gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics! Click Image
Hello from McKinney, Texas!
Welcome back to my “Bobsled Updates” as I work to Go For Gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea. Opening Ceremony begins in 327 days (February 9, 2018)!
For all the new readers to my bobsled updates, I provide in-depth, behind the scenes, bobsled updates periodically. My updates include some of my training protocol, race outlook and competition thoughts, reviews and expectations moving forward!
On a side note, please feel welcome to share, forward, cc, bcc any of my bobsled update emails with your family, friends, co-workers, colleagues or with anyone you wish. For the serious bobsled fans, you can send them this link so they can join themselves.
I learned early on in media training to not write, tweet, post or share anything that I wouldn’t feel comfortable talking about on the front page of CNN, Fox, Wall Street Journal or other media outlets.
My goal with these bobsled updates is to provide a unique perspective as a U.S. Olympian with a dream of winning Olympic Gold! I want you to be on the journey with me and see the steps it takes to make a dream come true!
Doing some jump testing at ETSU which is an official U.S. Olympic Training Site.
FYI — this bobsled update is a little longer then my normal updates, as I have a lot to catch you up on since the 2014 Winter Olympics…
OK, lets get to the good stuff, in a 10-point order to catch you up to speed:
1. After the 2014 Olympics, I needed a break — physically and mentally from the grind it took to make the U.S. Olympic Team. There is no question it took a ton of physical effort, but mentally speaking, it was the toughest challenge I have faced to this point of my life.
2. In order to stay physically fit and mentally sharp I started doing CrossFit and competed in three competitions. I got waxed in all of the competitions so no more detail on that since this is a bobsled update…
3. After much thought, prayer, dialog, consideration and blessing from my wife, the green light was on to make a run at the 2018 Winter Olympics!
4. My agent confirmed with the United States Olympic Committee, U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Association and the United States Anti-Doping Agency that all my paperwork is in order for a return to sport.
5. Shortly after the Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro concluded, NBC Olympics reached out and ran an article about my return to bobsled in 2017-18. Click here to read.
6. I decided to go ahead and write a digital letter on why I am Going For Gold in 2018. I want readers to have a better understanding on my thought process. Click here to read.
7. I began my bobsled training back at the world-class Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, Texas. I also synced back up with my Olympic coach Dr. Brad DeWeese who is at ETSU in Johnson City, Tennessee.
– Click here to watch me Power Clean 170 kg / 374 lbs. last month.
– Click here to watch me do Sled Pulls on the Run Rocket last month.
8. It has been tough managing my speaking engagements and Olympic training but we have worked through the kinks and have a strong program in place.
For my new readers, all U.S. Olympians and U.S. Olympic hopefuls are self-funded so it is imperative that we work when we are not training. I speak professionally, delivering action-packed messages to businesses, schools and organizations across the globe. See here.
We also must raise sponsorships to help off-set training costs and afford the cost to compete. I want to graciously thank the sponsors who have come on board as we have raised together so far 50% of my overall training/competition goal. Click here to view my Go For Gold sponsorship packet.
9. I have made two training trips to Calgary, Alberta, Canada to push on ice. The WinSport Calgary Olympic Park is the only indoor ice house in North America and we use their facility a lot to get true on ice training. Nothing can replace true on ice training.
– Click here to watch me pushing a sled in the ice house in January.
There is a non-stop flight from Dallas to Calgary and it’s soooo nice to fly that when the rates are affordable!
10. I stopped the CrossFit and have been in full bobsled training since August 2016 through last week March 2017. We have all my training data from Olympic year (2014) which gives us accurate data to compare my numbers. I am in very good shape!
My coach gave me 5 days off from training to reset/recover which was last week. I have been given an additional 5 days (this upcoming week) to break a sweat, i.e. ride a bike, yoga, shoot a basketball around, etc. before my training resumes and we begin the first official block of the Olympic year!
I want to thank everyone who prayed, supported and cheered me on during my journey to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia. Wow, that was an incredible experience!
I want to welcome you back to my bobsled updates, and also to all the new readers on this journey, as I work to Go For Gold at the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, South Korea!
Go USA!
