BobsleighStevenHolcomb IBSFsliding #Holcomb @USBF
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A tragic news comes down in the world of winter sports. The American bob player Steven Holcomb has disappeared today.
Sunday 7 May 2017 5 minutes reading time
The Vancouver 2010 Olympic champion was found dead this morning in his room at the federal training center in Lake Placid, where Holcomb was staying with teammates to prepare for the next delicate Olympic season.
"The whole family of Olympic sports is shocked by Steven Holcomb's sudden disappearance - with these words Scott Blackmun, head of the US Olympic Committee, gave the announcement of the American bobbist's death - Steve was an amazing athlete And he was a unique person. With his dedication and results he inspired so many people. Our thoughts and prayers are now coming to his family and to the whole community of bob. "
At this time, there are still no clear news about the causes of the death of the American talented pilot who had only reached the age of 37 last April 14th. Holcomb has been one of the top pilots of the last 10 years, and along with the historic rider Steven Langton had given birth to one of the most successful sodalizations in North American bob history.
Approaching the bob world at 18 years after some skiing in Alpine skiing, Steven initially accommodates behind Brian Shimer, Jim Herberich, Todd Hays and Mike Dionne as a braker. In 2002 he decided to make a big leap and start his career as a pilot.
Just in that year he was diagnosed with a degenerative disease at sight, which began to condition his life both in the daily and in the sports field. In 2007, Holcomb underwent a non-invasive operation that allowed him to win the first World Cup success at Cortina, where he placed himself in the bob at two with Brock Kreitzburg, and the next day he An incredible bis in the bob at four with Kreitzburg, Pavle Jovanovic and Steve Mesler.
From that moment on, the original Colorado pilot becomes one of the leading players in the world. In the World of Lake Placid 2009, the first gold medal in the bob four and three years later on the same track is unbeatable, winning the title both in the two and four-bet bobs.
But it is at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics that Holcomb enters the legend. The American rider, along with his comrades Steve Mesler, Curtis Tomasevicz and Justin Olsen, reports the United States on the highest pitch on the podium at a distance of 62 years from the last success of the stars and stripes, creating the legend of the "Night Train".
In the successive Olympics in Sochi Holcomb collects two other bronze medals, demonstrating extremely competitive in big appointments. In his career he also won two World Cups of two bobs and one of four bobs, and last year after some seasons due to the change of crew he had come back to play an absolute protagonist, seizing success in his Lake Placid And closing in second place in the overall two-and-a-half bob ranking in that of the four who made great predictions for next season.
Today, however, the man who has been fighting for blindness for years has closed his eyes forever ... Ciao Steven
STEVENHOLCOMB IBSFSLIDING #HOLCOMB @USBF
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