Steve Mesler (former UF decathlete) competing in Olympics

[rainbowgirl28]

Go Gators!

http://www.palmbeachpost.com/sports/con ... _0119.html

Switching tracks

By Hal Habib
Palm Beach Post Staff Writer

Thursday, January 19, 2006

Buffalo, N.Y., that's what Steve Mesler calls his hometown. Calgary, that's what he lists as the place he lives and trains. Under occupation, you'll find bobsledder, and under qualifications, two-time Olympian.

If you're relying on stereotypes to complete the picture of the man who's supposed to kick-start the United States' lead bobsled in Turin, you couldn't be more off-track.

Rather than a sniffling kid dashing through the snow at dusk for a cup of mom's hot chocolate, think instead... the University of Florida?

Rather than a man marching into the opening ceremony of the 2002 Winter Games as the fulfillment of a lifelong dream, think instead of someone who just four months earlier had never set foot in a bobsled and was ready to forget the whole crazy idea the moment he did.

"We just put you through school," were Mom's words, which still ring in Steve's ears today. "It's time to go get a job."

"I'm never going to be anywhere it's cold again," were Steve's pre-college words, which still ring in Mom's ears.

Nevertheless, the Meslers are bundling up for Turin, Italy, where Steve, 27, has a strong chance of winning an Olympic medal aboard USA 1, driven by the top-ranked bobsledder in the world, Todd Hays.

The idea of Mesler contending for a medal isn't new, except that medal was supposed to be in the decathlon, his event as a Florida Gator. Injuries, elbow surgery and a chance glance at a Web site interrupted those plans, and the next thing everyone knew, Mom and Dad were crying on the phone on the eve of the Salt Lake City Olympics as Steve told them that he had been elevated to the U.S. roster after another athlete failed a drug test.

"I think he made the right choice," says Ben Mesler, Steve's father.

"He went on to bigger and better things," mother Lois says.

Tough beginnings

It might not have always seemed that way, not in the humble beginnings in the sport when a big deal was merely being able to disconnect the rabbit-ear antenna from his TV. Alas, that luxury lasted only a month â€â€

[rainbowgirl28]

So who is Steve Mesler and why should you care what he is doing??

Well he is a member of this website, but much more importantly, he is a FOUNDER of the wonderful event known as the JOCK JUMP and made the first and only jock jump website.

Good luck in Turin Steve!!!

[rainbowgirl28]

Just talked to Steve today. He says he doesn't know yet if he will be on the 2-man bobsled team that competes next weekend, but he is on the 4-man team that competes the following weekend, Feb. 24-25.

Here is his profile on NBCOlympics.com
http://www.nbcolympics.com/athletes/5058645/detail.html