Canadian Chris Spring captures four-man bobsled World Cup bronze medal

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. — Canadian Chris Spring heads into the Christmas break on a nice roll.

The Calgary resident captured a bronze medal in a four-man World Cup bobsled race Saturday. On Friday, he and Lascelles Brown, also of Calgary, were third in the two-man competition.

“It was just a great weekend,” Strong said. “I was confident after Friday’s performance and I’ve been driving well here all week.

“I get a lot of confidence from the boys behind me. I believe in myself, but when other people believe in my ability, I take a lot more confidence from that. Those guys believe I’m the best pilot out there, and if they believe that, it allows me to as well.”

Spring, 32, and his team of Brown, Hamilton’s Cam Stones and Montreal Alouettes receiver Sam Giguere of Sherbrooke, Que., posted a time of one minute 48.71 seconds. Switzerland’s Rico Peter finished first in 1:48.31 while American Steven Holcomb was second in 1:48.70 just ahead of Spring.

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Peter’s sled had the fasted time in both heats.

Spring was sixth following the first run but moved into medal contention with the second-fastest second run of 54.46 seconds. It was the Australian-born Spring’s second career medal in the four-man event.

“I really feel both runs were great,” he said. “Being a top-10 sled we had an unlucky draw in 15th which is the last spot we could be in the first run.

“The track deteriorates a little bit here and there was a couple of crashes ahead of me in the first run so I think the difference was just in the draw. Sometimes you get lucky with that and sometimes you don’t.”

Giguere, 31, has been splitting his time between football and bobsleigh the last three years.

“It feels awesome,” he said. “Chris drove well the whole week.

“He was flying in that second run, and it was fun to be a part of helping get us on the podium.”

Giguere said there are many similarities with his two chosen sports.

 “The feeling is no different than winning the big game in football,” he said. “You battle with your teammates, you go through hardships of training and getting ready and you get beaten up a bit, but this is what I strive for and why I come out.

“I could spend my off-season chilling at home and taking it easy, but that is not what I’m about. I’m here for the competition. To have the opportunity to jump in the sled with Cam, Lascelles and Chris is just a great opportunity.”

Justin Kripps of Summerland, B.C, and his team of Jesse Lumsden (Burlington, Ont.), Josh Kirkpatrick (Calgary) and Ben Coakwell (Saskatoon) was ninth in 1:49.07. On Friday, Kripps and Lumsden were second in the two-man race.

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With files from The Associated Press.

The Canadian Press