Friday, January 24, 2014

Todd Lodwick to compete in record sixth Olympics


Todd Lodwick

Todd Lodwick; photo courtesy of Tom Kelly/U.S. Ski Team



At the Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, American Nordic combined athlete Todd Lodwick will do something no other U.S. Winter Olympian has ever accomplished: compete in his record sixth Olympic Games.


Lodwick, from Steamboat Springs, Colorado, sealed his spot on the U.S. Olympic Nordic combined team in December at the U.S. Team Trials in Park City, Utah, becoming the first American athlete to make a sixth Winter Olympics roster—and joining a short list of Winter Olympians ever to do so.


“Winning was definitely a monkey off the back in being able to say that I am in fact going to my sixth Olympic Games,” Lodwick, 37, said.


Joining him on the team are brothers Bryan and Taylor Fletcher, and 2010 gold medalist Bill Demong, who will be competing in his fifth and final Olympics. All have ties to the Steamboat Springs Winter Sports Club. With teammate Johnny Spillane, now retired, the team took home a record seven medals at the most recent Olympics, in Vancouver, British Columbia.


Lodwick’s spot on the team came into jeopardy in early January after injuring his shoulder in a crash at a provisional competition round in Chaux Neuve, France. But after flying home for an evaluation and already two weeks into an intensive rehab program, both Lodwick and his coaches feel he’ll still be able to compete and will be an asset to the team.


The final team was named on Wednesday.


“We were weighing everything pretty heavily and taking doctors’ advice into consideration,” U.S. coach Dave Jarrett said, adding the Lodwick’s injuries from the crash included a dislocated shoulder, non-displaced rib fracture, fractures to his humerus, and labral tears. “Todd really wants to contribute in the team event … if we can get him healthy enough to jump, he represents our best chance to get a medal.”





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