Tomasevicz: "We want to win in Sochi again!"
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| This formidable team will go for Gold this weekend in Sochi. Curtis Tomasevicz is first from the left. Photo: CT |
C.T.: I push with all my strength for about 5 seconds. I jump in with my teammates. And the driver steers the sled down the fastest line down the track to have the best time. The brakeman stops the sled by pulling a level in the sled causing the brakes to drag in the ice.
What does a normal training/starting cycle look like for a bobsledder? Do you have any time off?
C.T.: Our off season is March and April. After that, I train in Colorado Springs lifting and sprinting all summer. That is my time to get stronger and faster so I can push faster when the season does start in October. We have 8 World Cup races then before the World Championships (or Olympics) in February.
You have picked up this sport in 2004 thanks to an athlete friend - Amanda Moreley. What did - at that point - your parents Dennis and Amy think about it? Were they supportive or thought that you must be a little crazy to go from football to this?
C.T.: They were a little surprised at first but they were supportive right away. I'm not sure if they thought I was crazy. Probably a little bit!
Speaking of your folks - you are of Polish descent on your dad's side. Can you tell me a little bit about it? Do you speak any language?
C.T.: My dad's dad was 100% Polish. I don't speak the language, but I remember both my grandpa and my dad listening to Polkas on Sunday mornings.
In your career you have had many accomplishments and participated in Four-man, Two-man and Mixed teams. Which event is your favorite?
C.T.: I think the 4man event is my favorite. I like competing with my teammates. There is something more special about working and succeeding with a team. Plus the sport is faster and more exciting.
But your biggest accomplishment must be the Gold medal earned in Vancouver. How did it feel to break the 62-year spell and are you hungry for another one?
C.T.: It is hard to describe the feeling of winning that race. It is so emotional to have a goal that takes four years to accomplish and see it come true. And once you've tasted that type of success once, you want to do it again just as bad. We want to win in Sochi again!
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| Entire US Men Bobsled olympic family. Photo: CT |
C.T.: I think each Olympics is very different. I have great memories from all three. I've met some great friends at each Olympics and I am still friends with them. The cultures at each site were different and each has left a different feeling.
You are a true American, born and raised in the middle of Nebraska's corn country. Is this why you are an advocate and spokeperson for Nebraska Corn Board?
C.T.: Yes, I've been supported by many people in home town and state, and many of them are corn farmers. So this is a way for me to bring attention to their accomplishments and support them. The Corn Board represents the thousands of farmers and helps support them in legislature, sales, and other agriculture related issues.
You also went to school there - University of Nebraska - where you earned MS in Electrical Engineering and minor in Astronomy. How big of a geek are you?
C.T.: I really enjoy learning and reading. I liked going to class and I rarely missed a class. Many of my classes were extremely difficult, but I like the challenge mentally and physically.
At Nebraska you also played football as a running back/linebacker and competed with Cornhuskers in a Rose Bowl National Title game against Miami in 2002. Can you compare participating in such a game to an olympic start?
C.T.: I think the Olympics are a bigger stage. The entire world comes together to watch the Olympics. It is truly a world event.
You have played with a couple of guys that made it to the NFL. Josh Brown is with the Giants, everybody knows Richie Incognito now and Sam Koch is a Superbowl Champ with Baltimore Ravens. When you see those guys - don't you ever say to yourself: that could've been me?
C.T.: I don't think I was meant to be an NFL player. I enjoyed playing at the college level, but I have really been able to become one of the world's best in bobsled.
Indeed. And apart from that you also are: a baseball umpire, football official and a... bass-guitarist, who once in 2010 performed Yellow Ledbedder at a Pearl Jam concert in Kansas with the band! Tell me how did that happen?
C.T.: That moment was epic! I have always been a huge fan. And I think every athlete wants to be a rock star just like every rock star wishes they were an athlete. And the guys in the band were exactly like I had hoped they would be. They weren't cocky or arrogant. After the show we had a couple beers and just talked like friends. I'm glad I didn't make any mistakes during the song. I was so nervous that I couldn't stand still while I played. I had to sway back and forth.
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| Stevens: Holcomb and Langton already have won Bronze in Sochi. Will Curt and Chris help them to bring the Gold back to the USA? Photo: CT |
C.T.: I think the Russians are the favorite, which makes us a little bit of an underdog. And we like that position. It will be a great competition. The Germans and Latvians will be good too.
And what about Poles?
C.T.: I am familiar with them. David Kupczyk has been a driving on the World Cup circuit since I started. They haven't had great success but they complete honestly and do their best every week. They are typically smiling and are great to be around.
Tell me about Night Train 2 - how is it different from the original one?
C.T.: The new sled in made of carbon fiber and the old one is fiber glass. So the new one is lighter and allows us to move the weight to different places for optimal placement. It is also more aerodynamic and a touch smaller.
Since you compete on the last two days of the Games, what do you do in the meantime?
C.T.: I have been to a number of different events this Olympics so far including hockey, speed skating, and moguls.
And what do you think about the US team so far?
C.T.: It is inspiring to watch the other USA athletes compete. My favorite athletes are the ones that aren't in spot light going into their event. But they surprise the world. Matt Antoine in skeleton this year is a great example.
So he impressed you and as for the biggest disappointment?
C.T.: It's hard to say what I expected for the entire US program because I'm so focused on my sport and I don't think that it is fair to be disappointed in another athlete as long as they performed their very best. This is a world's best competition so there should be no reason to be upset with their best effort.
Your bobsleigh buddy Amanda must be very proud of you even though she never made it to the Games. What is she up to now?
C.T.: Amanda is married with one child. She just missed both the 2006 and the 2010 Olympics, which made me sad.
Speaking of kids - you are great with them and... you're 33. Time to think about retiring and settling down?
C.T.: I am really not sure what the future holds for me, both with a career and relationships. I will have to take some time this spring and summer and try to plan my next step.
Last year you were nominated to a National Polish-American Sports Hall of Fame (located in Troy, Michigan). With any medal in Sochi you will pretty much guarantee your spot in it. What would it mean to you?
C.T.: I did know I was nominated, but I understand that another medal would help my chances. It would be an amazing honor and I would be very proud to be part of such a hall of fame.
Thanks and good luck defending the Gold!
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Bobsled competition begins on Saturday, Feb 22 at 11:30am (1st Heat) and 1pm (2nd Heat). Two more heats will take place on Sunday morning: 4:30 and 6am - all EST.
More about Curtis: http://www.tomaseviczbobsled.com
Follow him on Twitter: https://twitter.com/ctomasevicz
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