Former Gator Steve Mesler and Team USA Win Olympic Gold
Sunday, February 28, 2010 | Track and Field
By Mark Maloney
For GatorZone.com
Steve Mesler is a golden Gator.
The Florida grad (2000) was part of the USA I team that, Saturday at the Whistler Sliding Centre, became the first American four-man bobsled crew to strike Olympic gold in 62 years.
It was 1948 at St. Moritz when the United States last won this event.
With Steve Holcomb driving, followed by pushers Justin Olsen and Mesler, plus brakeman Curt Tomasevicz, USA I became king of the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games
The foursome took the lead on the first of two runs Friday and never let loose. They had the fastest time in Saturday's first run, 51.19, and third-best time in the last trip, 51.52.
Combined time for the four runs was 3 minutes, 24.46 seconds, a whopping (by bobsled standards) 38 hundredths of a second ahead of the silver medal team..
USA I denied German driver Andre Lange a record third consecutive gold in the event. Lange, whose four career Olympic golds include the Vancouver two-man competition, rallied with the fastest run in the final heat to edge the Canadian sled driven by Lyndon Rush – by one hundredth of a second.
Yes, Mesler said, he will be bringing his gold to Gainesville, probably in March or April.
“I've got to go someplace warm,” he said. “I've been in the cold mountains for five months. I've got to get to the beach at some point, so I can't wait to bring it down there.
“To get down there is going to be so much fun, and see all the people. I wasn't a tremendously successful athlete when I was there. I have really grown as an athlete and a person since then, so I can't wait to get down there and celebrate with everybody.”
Mesler, 31, came from Buffalo to become a decathlete on the Florida track and field team.
Saturday, another former Gator decathlete – Mesler's best friend and a college roommate – Dan Dearing and wife Katie had a bleacher seat near the finish line. Draped across the railing for all the world to see was their Gators flag commemorating the 2006 national football title.
Mesler, a 6-foot-2, 206-pounder, is dedicated to his sport. For the past seven years, in order to train where his coach, Stewart McMillan, lives, Mesler has made his home in Calgary.
Vancouver became his third Olympics.
“It's been nine years since I've been in the sport,” he said. “In '02, I was the alternate on the team, so I was there watching those (USA) guys win silver and bronze, and it was unbelievable. At no point did I really fathom that this was possible.
“Then in '06 we were supposed to do well. We won two out of three World Cups going in, and we didn't. We just didn't (placing seventh). We didn't get it done.
“So to come in this time, third time, maybe my last one, having accomplished everything else I could imagine in the sport – overall World Cup championships, world champion, almost 40 World Cup medals -- there was just one thing left to do. And we just did it.”
He laughed at the wonder of it all.
Mesler helped Team USA tie for the second-best start times in each run Saturday, 4.77 and 4.76. Beyond the actual push time, USA I gains speed as arguably the most efficient team to load and get in position in the sled.
Saturday night, he was planning to party with family, friends and teammates at USA House in Whistler.
Oh, and pick up some golden hardware at the official medal ceremony.
“I haven't quite put it together that that's going to happen,” he said.
Believe it – Gator gold.
END OF REPORT
