Hunter CHURCH

Historical Results

Singing.

Athlete

Father, Thomas. Mother, Elizabeth. Brother, John.

English

National: Mike Kohn (USA)

Pilot

Great uncle (Bobsleigh): Competed at the 1948 U.S. Olympic trials.

Father Thomas Church (Bobsleigh): Competed in the 1970s and 1980s, with an appearance at the 1987 U.S. Olympic trials.

Football, wrestling, track and field, baseball. (reddevilbobsledteam.com)

2017 World Cup in Whistler (Two man - 23rd, Four man - 21st)

September 2021: Open fracture in his left big toe that required surgery after dropping a heavy load on it. This forced him to miss the training runs and test event at Yanqing in anticipation of the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.

Summer 2019: Strained calf muscle forced him to scale back on his physical training, so he focused more on the mental aspect of the sport, something he credits for his development as an athlete.

2017/18: Torn labrum and hip impingement in left hip that, initially misdiagnosed, limited his training throughout the season. Underwent surgery in April 2018.

2015

After his family settled in Cadyville, NY (an hour north of Lake Placid, NY), he completed his first run at age seven with his father, and eventually enrolled in a junior bobsleigh program at age 12, making him one of the youngest sliders there. Began training as a driver three years later in Park City, UT. Continued bobsledding throughout high school for recreation but started competing internationally not too soon after he graduated. Transferred to the National Sports Academy in Lake Placid, NY so he could focus on full-time training in the sport. (teamusa.org, 9 Dec 2019; pressrepublican.com, 23 Jan 2020)

"It was like sledding down the ultimate sledding track - what every kid would do in their backyard. It was something fun to do." (teamusa.org, 1 Sep 2017)

To medal at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games. (backinthegame.hss.edu)

"At the end of the day, it’s to grow as a person. I want to take these life experiences I’m having now and apply them to everyday life. That’s the main goal. I want to develop as a person and continue to mature and grow." (teamusa.org, 1 Sep 2017)

Winning the final North American Cup prior to the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games, and earning Team USA a third four-man sled at the Games. “That final run is my proudest accomplishment." He was not chosen to drive that sled at PyeongChang 2018 and was disappointed to miss the Olympic team, but it served as motivation. (teamusa.org, 9 Dec 2019)

Bobsledder John Napier (USA), who placed 10th at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games. (suncommunitynews.com)

Bobsledder Steve Holcomb (USA), 2010 Olympic champion (four-man), two-time Olympic silver medallist (2014 two-man/four-man), and five-time World champion. "I told him I wanted to be like him one day." (suncommunitynews.com; espn.com, 19 Jan 2020)