Far away from any icy turns of a bobsled hill, on a steamy July day in Houston, Jeremy Hicks is trying to achieve his winter Olympic dreams. In front of a stopwatch and cell phone camera, the 33-year-old is running 40-yard sprints while a friend records his best attempts. All in an effort to be seen by America's top Olympic coaches.
All over the United States, aspiring Olympic athletes like Hicks are submitting their videos to the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Digital Combine, a free exposure event on gmtm.com. This event is the first of its kind for USABS, who usually discover their athletes through word of mouth.
Don't wait for tomorrow to do what you can do today. There's ONE DAY left to submit your USABS combine powered by @HammerStrength on @GMTMSports. You control your future. If you've ever dreamed about representing the U.S., this is your time! Go to https://t.co/FRKwNS6Yr7 NOW. pic.twitter.com/np0jqetJ6K
— USA Bobsled Skeleton (@USABS) September 29, 2020
This digital event allows hopeful Winter Olympians to submit videos in a variety of drills and be evaluated by Team USA coaches. Typically, this evaluation would be done in person, with either party traveling hundreds or thousands of miles without a sure clue about the prospect or the sport.
The new Digital Combine on GMTM make it simple. Submit your videos, be evaluated and earn your invite by proving you're a top candidate.
Pushing cars or pushing sleds? Everything helps you be discovered by Olympic coaches in the @USABS Digital Combine!
— GMTM (@GMTMSports) September 23, 2020
Compete for free on https://t.co/5mIcItqpeE 📲 and earn your invite to a national team tryout! pic.twitter.com/162K2VwWRp
USA Bobsled and Skeleton coaches are used to evaluating athletes from all different backgrounds, too. In fact, a few of the United States' most accomplished athletes in the sport aren't introduced to the sport until after college. Jeremy Hicks, for example, was an outstanding college track athlete, who's speed and explosiveness was a natural fit for bobsled's push-starts.
Our athletes won’t stop, can’t stop. They are allowed one hour outside during their two week quarantine when arriving in Lake Placid. They can’t use the push track, the weight room, or any other facilities. Did that slow @nicolebrungardt down? Nope. No excuses. pic.twitter.com/qdICwvSbJ2
— USA Bobsled Skeleton (@USABS) October 8, 2020
Because of the lack of exposure to the sport and the difficulty in evaluating athletes in person this year, the USABS Digital Combine is a groundbreaking event in the Winter sports landscape. With more athletes being able to compete and be seen from home, the evaluation process and opportunities for hopeful bobsledders is more inclusive inclusive than ever.
Sign up today and you could compete in any of the four challenges and put your name in front of the Team USA coaches.
