Olympics roundup: World Class Athlete Program helping fuel Olympic dreams

Two members of the Army’s World Class Athlete Program finished 13th overall in the two-man bobsled at the 2022 Winter Olympics in China.

Frank Del Duca and Hakeem Abdul-Saboor, both specialists in the Army, finished their four runs on Feb. 14-15 in a combined time of 4 minutes, .1 seconds. That was 3.21 seconds behind gold medalists Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis of Germany.

Germany swept the medal stand in the event, with Johannes Lochner and Florian Bauer placing second and Christoph Hafer and Matthias Sommer finishing third overall. It’s the first time one nation has swept the medals in an Olympic bobsled event.

Del Duca and Abdul-Saboor are among five Team USA members from the World Class Athlete Program (WCAP) competing in this year’s Winter Games, along with luger Emily Sweeney and Nordic combined competitors Ben Loomis and Jasper Good. Airman Kelly Curtis is part of the Air Force’s athlete program.

About 60 Olympians have represented Team USA in the summer and winter games since the Army’s program began in 1997. Just like other soldiers, the athletes must complete basic training and maintain qualifications. They receive the same pay and benefits as other active duty soldiers.

“I wouldn’t be able to do it without WCAP and I am extremely grateful for that,” Abdul-Saboor told The Associated Press.

Nordic combined

Loomis, an Army specialist, placed 19th overall in the individual large hill 10K on Feb. 15. He finished the course in 29:17.2, 2:03.9 behind gold medalist Joergen Graabak of Norway. Good, also an Army specialist, finished 34th in 31:32.9.

Skeleton

Air Force Airman Kelly Curtis finished 21st overall in women’s skeleton. Curtis, who made her Olympic debut, is also the first Black skeleton athlete to represent Team USA in the Games.

Biathlon

Vermont Army National Guard Spec. Deedra Irwin finished 37th overall in the women’s 7.5K sprint biathlon on Feb. 11. Irwin finished in 23:10.1, 2:25.8 behind gold medalist Marte Olsbu Roeiseland of Norway.

Irwin finished 47th overall in the women’s 10K pursuit on Feb. 13, 6:14.1 behind gold medalist Roeiseland. And she was part of the 4x6K relay team which finished 11th overall on Feb. 16. Irwin, Susan Dunklee, Clare Egan and Joanne Reid finished 4:47.4 behind the gold medalists from Sweden.

In the men’s 10K sprint on Feb. 12, Vermont Army National Guard Spec. Sean Doherty finished 47th overall in 26:35.2 and fellow Vermont Army National Guard Spec. Leif Nordgren finished 83rd overall in 27:31.8.

In the men’s 12.5K pursuit on Feb. 13, Doherty finished 43rd overall, 6:31.3 behind gold medalist Quentin Fillon Maillet of France.

And the American team of Doherty, Nordgren, Jake Brown and Paul Schommer finished 13th overall in the men’s 4x7.5K relay on Feb. 15. Their overall time was 5:42.8 behind the gold medalists from Norway.