BOBSLEDDING GOLD

The sports switch did not worry Steve Holcomb. When his son, Steven, changed winter sports allegiances from Alpine skiing to bobsled, he knew both were inherently dangerous and vastly time consuming and offered little return. It was the timing that irked Steve Holcomb. Holcomb had just sent a tuition check to the University of Utah shortly before Steven made the decision. With a shrug, Steven told his father he was leaving for Europe the next day to fuel a passion and chase a dream. Then, Steve Holcomb fumed. Now? “Probably a good investment,” Holcomb said, watching his son compete from near the finish line at the Whistler Sliding Centre. “It was money well spent, poorly.” On Saturday, long after bequeathing what turned out to be a friendly donation to the college, Steven Holcomb can offer a refund in gold. Holcomb piloted USA-1 to the first gold medal for the United States in the four-man competition in 62 years. Patrick Henry Martin last won gold for the United States, at the St. Moritz Games in 1948. Martin’s win capped an American run of three gold medals in four Olympics, a feat unmatched until USA-1 revitalized itself and reappeared on Saturday. The medal, and another from the men’s hockey final, means the United States will leave with 37, the most by a country at a single Winter Olympics. (NY Times)