Going for the Gold: Todd Lodwick

When Nordic combined skier Todd Lodwick retired in 2006 he had competed in four Olympic Games, six World Champioinships, had 24 top three World Cup finishes-six of which he won-and a record 17 U.S. titles.  But that was not enough.

One thing eluded him and it compelled him to come out of retirement in 2008.  An Olympic medal.

Lodwick began competing at the international level in 1994, winning his first meet and adding to that success in the years that followed. 

He competed at his first Olympic Winter Games that year in Lillehammer, where he finished in 13^th place.  Nagano was somewhat of a disappointment with a 20^th place finish.  Lodwick's performance in Salt Lake marked several U.S. bests with 7^th place in the individual and 5^th in the sprint.  That year he was also part of the team that came closer than ever to the podium, finishing in a heartbreaking 4^th place.  Torino brought a 7^th place team, 8^th place individual, 9^th place sprint and retirement shortly afterwards.

Life in retirement meant getting into real estate back in his hometown of Steamboat Springs, CO and focusing on his growing family.  But Lodwick had some unfinished business in the world of skiing and try as he might, he couldn't escape it.  Shortly before the birth of his second child in 2008, he finally made the decision to return to competition and make a run for the 2010 U.S. Olympic team.  Since then, all signs seem to indicate that he made the right call.

The Continental Cup was the first step, where Lodwick won his first event after a 3-year hiatus.  He won the next two events as well and moved up to World Cup competition at the end of 2008.  Heading to his first World Cup event in Oberhof, Germany with modest expectations, Lodwick surprised everyone by placing a close second in both races there.

Less than two months later Lodwick won two historic gold medals at World Championships in Liberic, Czech Republic.  Having never won a medal in a major competition, Lodwick has been making up for lost time.  

With Vancouver on the horizon, things are looking very good for Todd Lodwick these days.  Strong performances by Lodwick and his teammates this year seem to be a good sign for things to come.  As in the past their goal will be to win an Olympic medal in Nordic Combined, something the U.S. has never done in the history of the Games.  Vancouver 2010 just may be the end of the drought.

CLICK HERE for Todd Lodwick's bio.

Tags: 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, Going for the Gold, Todd Lodwick