Steven Holcomb and Steve Langton are the first Americans in 62 years to win a two-man bobsled Olympic medal after claiming bronze at the Sanki Sliding Center in Russia Feb. 17. The USA-1 sled finished a nail-biting 0.03 seconds ahead of fourth to secure a medal with a four-run combined time of 3:46.27.
A team of engineers in Mooresville was paying particular attention to the winning time. This local team, led by Hans deBot, partnered with BMW North America to manufacture the entire fleet of bobsleds for the two-man competition for both the men and women's 2014 U.S. Olympic Team.
Owner of deBotech Inc., deBot began his partnership with the U.S. Olympic Team in 2002 when he was asked to bring his knowledge of light-weight racing products, techniques and experience to build and design a bobsled using carbon fiber composites. He was given no information - just a deadline. deBot researched Olympic rules and regulations and built his first advanced carbon fiber sled in time for the 2002 games. Recently, deBot and his team at deBotech have been designing and engineering high-end performance and specialty composite bobsleds and skeleton pods for Team USA with gold medal success. The USA bobsled and skeleton teams had unprecedented results in the World Cup Tour - taking home a record number of medals and setting track records in the process.
"Hans deBot at deBotech, a longtime partner of USA Bobsled & Skeleton, provides custom pods and quality carbon fiber and composite parts for the construction of the sled out of their headquarters in Mooresville," said Tuffy Latour, Skeleton head coach. "The U.S. program is proud to have sleds made in the USA and our technology partners have put us in the contention for the medals in Sochi 2014."
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