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Brian Shimer: Fifth Olympic Experience
Brian Shimer has been a force in American Bobsled for more than 20 years. This will his fifth Olympics, likely his last, and hopefully his best.
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(Jan. 26, 2002)------ In a sport dominated by Europeans, Bobsled Pilot Brian Shimer has won three bronze medals at World Championships, but never a medal at the Olympics. Shelley Osterloh reports.
In Nagano he made a slight error and he missed the bronze by just 2-one-hundredths of a second. That's less than the blink of an eye.
Brian Shimer/Olympic Bobsled Pilot: AT THAT POINT IN MY LIFE, I NEVER FELT MORE EMPTY AND SAD OR LOW IN ANY ATHLETIC PERFORMANCE THAT I'VE HAD. AFTER THAT YOU ASK YOURSELF, DO I GO FORWARD FROM HERE? DO WE PUT IT BEHIND US OR DO I WALK AWAY AND ALWAYS REMEMBER IT THAT WAY?
He chose to go on. One reason: The games are in Salt Lake City.
Brian Shimer/Olympic Bobsled Pilot: TO BE ABLE TO COME BACK TO THE U.S., END MY CAREER HERE, OWN BACKYARD, WOULD BE A GREAT HONOR FOR ME TO REPRESENT MY COUNTRY FOR THE 5TH TIME.
Despite some setbacks, Shimer seems to have more confidence and ease than ever before, and proved it at the Olympic trials.
Brian Shimer/Olympic Bobsled Pilot: AND I FEEL RIGHT NOW THAT I'M THE BEST AND RIGHT NOW TODD IS THE BEST IN THE WORLD. YOU KNOW, I THINK I'M THE BEST ON THIS TRACK AT THIS TIME. SO YOU KNOW IT'S GOING TO BE A TOUGH COMPETITION BETWEEN US.
Shimer was married last March. His wife, Ann Marie, admits she doesn't get as much time with her new husband as she would like... but helping him reach his dream is worth it.
Ann Marie Shimer/Brian's Wife: OH IT'S PRETTY AWESOME GOING FOR HIS 5TH OLYMPICS AND FINISHING COMPETING FOR THE COUNTRY IN AMERICA IS HIS DREAM REALLY. SO I GET CHOKED UP ABOUT IT, BUT ITS GOOD FOR HIM.
Shimer says for the first time in his life, he knows there is life after sports. He plans to retire after the games.
Brian Shimer/Olympic Bobsled Pilot: I'M GOING TO HAVE FUN. I'M GOING TO GO OUT THERE AND DO THE BEST THAT I CAN DO. AND IF THAT'S GOOD ENOUGH FOR A GOLD MEDAL, IT'LL BE A STORYBOOK ENDING.
In a career filled with decades of remarkable achievement and some disappointing defeats, Brian Shimer hopes his fifth Olympic experience is the best of all.
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