Team USA Bobsled Trains Rocky-Style in the Cold

While other Olympic teams might train in climate-controlled facilities with cutting-edge equipment, Team USA Bobsled has a different approach. They embrace the cold, grab basic weights, and channel pure Rocky IV energy to build champions.

Lieutenant Colonel Chris Fogt, a three-time Olympian and silver medalist who now coaches the team, calls bobsled a "blue collar sport." His athletes train wherever they can find a weight rack and bar. Snow, rain, freezing cold, or warm weather doesn't matter.

Many team members are active-duty soldiers competing through the Army World Class Athlete Program, which supports soldier-athletes training for national and international competitions. That military mindset shows in how they approach their training.

The workouts focus on explosive power rather than traditional muscle-building. Athletes perform low-rep, high-intensity exercises like hang cleans, jump squats, and medicine ball throws. Every movement mimics the quick, explosive push they need to launch a 400-pound sled down an icy track.

Training in freezing weather isn't just about matching race conditions. Fogt says it builds the mental toughness his athletes need to perform when it matters most.

Why This Inspires

"We kind of take pride in that grungy, Rocky IV style," Fogt explains. "We like being cold and we like to be rugged and rough. It helps us feel like we have an edge over the other teams."

That mindset proves you don't need perfect conditions to achieve excellence. The team's recent fourth-place finish at Milano-Cortina, with Frank Del Duca and Joshua Williamson completing the two-man bobsled in 3:41.96, shows their approach works.

The story reminds us that dedication and mental strength often matter more than fancy equipment. Whether you're pushing a bobsled or chasing your own goals, sometimes the grittiest path leads to the greatest growth.

Team USA Bobsled proves that champions are built with barbells, determination, and a willingness to embrace the cold.