Football
Associated Press 18y

Quinn, Niccum force race-off for final luge berth

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. -- Patrick Quinn's gloved hands trembled as he carefully removed the tiny white strip of paper tucked into the back of his racing helmet.

It was the one from a fortune cookie his 2-year-old daughter, Alaina, had picked a few weeks back.

Slowly peeling it open again, Quinn read the inspiring words that never felt more appropriate.

"It says: 'A long-term goal will soon be achieved,'" said Quinn, choked with emotion. "It's the best fortune I ever got."

Quinn, a former nationally ranked speedskater turned sports agent turned Olympic hopeful at 39, and teammate Christian Niccum finished fourth in a World Cup event on Friday to force a race-off for the final doubles berth on the U.S. Olympic luge team.

The pair needed to place in the top five to prolong their shared Olympic dream, and they will now go sled-to-sled with Preston Griffall and Dan Joye for a trip to the Turin Games in February.

"We survived -- for right now," said Niccum, still not 100 percent after suffering a serious concussion last month during a crash on the Olympic track in Cesana Pariol, Italy. "We did what we wanted to do today."

Luge officials announced a best-of-three race-off will take place next Wednesday with the winner going to Turin. Two-time Olympic medalists Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin secured their spot on the U.S. team with a win last week in Calgary.

Niccum and Quinn, who have only been racing together for two seasons, had the fastest time in the first run, just ahead of Germany's Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch, the defending Olympic champions, who went on to win the race.

In the hour or so between runs, Quinn, a member of the U.S. national speedskating team from 1996 to 2003 who never qualified for the Olympics, called his wife, Kathleen. He spent the rest of the time praying, reflecting and focusing.

"I walked around the top of the track," he said. "I said a prayer, and I felt like it was our time. I just tried to think about everything I've learned in my athletic career. I listened to
the theme from 'Rocky.' As a kid, that was the movie I watched over and over and over. I knew subconsciously that would give me the right feeling. I tuned everything else out.

"My dad passed away a couple of years ago, and before he did, he told me to finish what I started, and I said a quick prayer for him," he said.

As the final sliders of the second round, Niccum and Quinn barreled down the 20-turn course knowing they needed to be nearly perfect to have a chance. Along the way, Quinn reminded himself to keep his hands close, to let Niccum drive, and, to relax.

After crossing the finish line, Quinn jumped off the sled and hugged Niccum before greeting his sister and other family members and friends, who lined a wooden split-rail fence.

Then Quinn called his wife, who monitored the race via the Internet with 50 office co-workers back in Illinois.

"We did it," Quinn told her, his voice cracking.

The couple have had to sacrifice time together as Quinn has juggled his Olympic dream with his job -- he represents speedskater Derek Parra and others -- and fatherhood. Now, Quinn's quest will include at least one more race, one he's been dreaming of his
entire life.

"I'll be up for that one," Quinn said. "Way up."

American Tony Benshoof, who has already clinched a spot in Turin, is among the favorites in Saturday's men's singles.

^ Back to Top ^