 |
On how important family support is when training for the Olympics, and how these games compare to past Olympic experiences...
I think most, if not all, Olympic athletes would say that they wouldn't be in the position they are without a strong support group at home. Our families have been with us from the very beginning of this journey and have been a huge part of our success. Without their unselfish support, we wouldn't have had the opportunity to devote the time to mastering the skills that are necessary to compete at the highest level.
We don't necessarily feel more pressure going into these games. We've been doing this for some time now and we are confident in our abilities. We've taken all the necessary steps in our training and we know that if we have two good runs in the games, we can do really well. Of course, there are those factors like weather and overall track condition that we really can't control, so it is even more important that we are on top of the things that we can [control].
Consistency is a huge factor in our sport. This year we struggled a little bit with consistency in the races leading up to Christmas, but those are some of the things that we're working on right now. Through our training, breaking down video and working on the little things, we feel like we're on the right path. If everything comes together, we think that we will not only bring home a third medal, but very possibly a gold medal.
« back to main Athlete Spotlight page
|
|
|
|
|
Brian Martin
Born: Jan. 19, 1974, Palo Alto, CA
Height: 5'8"
Weight: 162 lbs.
Resides in Palo Alto, CA
Career Highlights:
| • |
|
Along with his partner, Mark Grimmette, USA Luge's all-time leaders in int'l medals won, 61, including Olympic, World Championship, World Cup & Challenge Cup (2, 18, 17 & 24) |
| • |
|
2002 XIX Olympic silver medallists, Salt Lake City, Utah, USA |
| • |
|
1998 XVIII Olympic bronze medallists, Nagano, Japan |
| • |
|
Three-time overall World Cup Champions (1998, 1999 & 2003), 2000 overall World Cup bronze medallists |
| • |
|
11 World Cup wins gives them the all-time USA Luge lead for career victories |
| • |
|
Four-time World Championship bronze medallists (1999, 2000, 2004 & 2005) |
| • |
|
Two-time world championship team event silver medallists (2004 & 2005) |
| • |
|
Two-time overall Challenge Cup silver medallists (2000 & 2001) |
| • |
|
Two-time consecutive Challenge Cup Champions (2002 & 2003) |
| • |
|
2000 Winter Goodwill Games Champions |
| • |
|
Four-time Verizon North American Champions (2000, 200, 2002 & 2004) |
| • |
|
Verizon U.S. National Champions (1998, 1999, 2001, 2002, 2005 & 2005-06) |
| • |
|
2005-06 World Cup results: 13th, 9th, 10th, 1st, 10th, |
| • |
|
Winter 2005 World Cup team event gold medallists (Dec. 10, 2005) |
| • |
|
2005-06 Verizon U.S. national champions |
| • |
|
Fall 2005 World Cup team event gold medallists (Dec. 10) |
| • |
|
Finished sixth in the 2005 Meransan, Italy Int'l start championships |
Fun Facts:
| • |
|
Grimmette and Martin have their own Web site, grimmettemartin.com |
| • |
|
Brian says his favorite career moment was winning bronze during the 1998 Olympic Winter Games |
| • |
|
Brian says that if he could compete in any other Olympic sport it would either be soccer or downhill ski racing |
| • |
|
Brian says his favorite place to vacation is in the Tropics, Costa Rica or the British Virgin Islands |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 |
|
| These athletes carry the hopes of a nation on their shoulders as they compete for Gold in Torino. |
|
|
|
|
