American track and field sprinter Ryan Bailey has taken his running talent to the ice. Bailey is most famously known for anchoring the United States 4×100 meter relay team to a second place finish at the 2012 London Olympic Games.
This is the same race that superstar Usain Bolt and his Jamaican teammates broke the 4x100m world record with a time of 36.84. Bailey and Bolt, both running the anchor leg of the relay, received the baton at almost the same time. We obviously know the end result as Usain Bolt led his team to a gold medal and world record.
Now, Bailey has set his sights on making the 2018 Winter Olympic team in bobsledding. He is following in the footsteps of American sprinter Lauryn Williams and hurdler Lolo Jones.
At the 2014 Sochi Olympic Winter Games, Williams and her teammate Meyers Taylor earned a silver medal. Bailey hopes to have similar success as Williams. As of now, he is off to a good start.
Bailey won the men’s push athlete title at the USA Bobsled National Push Championships in Calgary earlier this week. “I didn’t know what to think coming into competition,” Bailey said to USA Bobsled. “To actually win the first year, it’s a pretty good feeling.”
Another U.S. track and field sprinter was set to compete this week as well. Tyson Gay, the American 100m record holder has a desire to make the 2018 Winter Olympic Team, but after meeting with the bobsled coaching staff, decided not to compete and learn more about the sport.
As a track and field fan, it will be interesting to see if Bailey or Gay will make the Winter Olympic Team in 2018.
Check out the video of Ryan Bailey anchoring the 4x100m relay against Usain Bolt
By Dr. Brandon Spradley
Dr. Spradley is the Director of Sports Management at the United States Sports Academy, and can be reached at bspradley@ussa.edu.