Mickie Rzepka Named to 2010 United States Olympic Bobsled Team

Jan. 18, 2010

EAST LANSING, Mich. - Mickie Rzepka (Novi, Mich.), a former standout pole vaulter for Michigan State track & field team, has been named to the United States Olympic Bobsled team as announced by the United States Olympic Committee on Saturday, Jan. 16. Rzepka is one of six athletes named to the team, joining Emily Azevedo (Chico, Calif.), Elana Meyers (Douglasville, Ga.), Erin Pac (Farmington, Conn.), Shauna Rohbock (Park City, Utah) and Bree Schaaf (Bremerton, Wash.) as 2010 Olympians. The former Spartan will join Rohbock in the USA I sled when competing in Canada.

"Being named to the 2010 US Olympic team means so much to me," said Rzepka. "It represents a dream that I set out for long ago. To accomplish this dream and share it with the world is such an honor. I feel privileged to been chosen as a representative for our great country."

The reigning Women's Bobsled Athlete of the Year recipient has not only been successful in the sled, but Rzepka also excelled as a student-athlete at MSU on the track & field team. Rzepka is a two-time Big Ten Champion while donning the Green and White in the pole vault, winning the event both indoors and outdoors in 2005. Rzepka is also the current school record holder both outdoors, with a height of 4.10m, and indoors, with a vault of 4.02m.

"Michigan State University prepared me for the bobsled world in many ways," Rzepka said. "First, it gave me an education that I will have for life. During my college years in the classroom I learned the importance of work ethic, organization and preparation. Competing for MSU taught me the importance of not only the physical aspect of sport, but also preparing yourself mentally. I am such a strong athlete mentally because of my experience pole vaulting at MSU.

"My accomplishments as a pole vaulter at MSU are very close to my heart. Pole vault was my first love and I learned how to be dedicated and how to have work ethic at Michigan State. It was at MSU where I found my roots as a strong female athlete. My career high still today is winning the Big Ten Championships my senior year. From my freshman year on, I trained hard and came up from the bottom and worked to prove to everyone that Mickie Rzepka was a name to be remembered. I am very proud of my accomplishments at MSU and I feel honored to have been able to attend such an amazing University."

Following her time as a Spartan, Rzepka attended McNeese State University as a track & field graduate assistant and pursued her master's degree in exercise physiology. Now, she is taking her career to the national level as one of the premier brakeman in the world. Although wearing the Green and White had special meaning to Rzepka as a hometown girl, the Red, White & Blue are colors that are always bitter sweet to all Americans.

"Representing the great country of the United States of America is such a privilege," added Rzepka. "I do not take for granted this opportunity that life has given me. I wear our country's colors with honor and I want to send a positive message as an ambassador of the Olympic sport of bobsled for the U.S.A."

Rzepka has pushed her way onto the world stage, finishing in the top-10 standings in 15 of 16 World Cup competitions over the last three years, including 11 top-five performances. Her 2010 Women's World Cup circuit has been highlighted by her first gold medal finish of her career, along with Rohbock, in Cessana, Italy on Dec. 5, 2009.

Shauna Rohbock (left) and Mickie Rzepka (right) smile after winning a Bobsled World Cup race in Cesana Pariol, northern Italy, Saturday, Dec. 5, 2009.

"While pulling the brakes and seeing Shauna's fist pump high into the air I knew that we had won the gold," said Rzepka. "It was an unbelievable feeling to accomplish something so great for the first time. It was such an amazing moment in my athletic career to be in such a spotlight at the European track. Standing on the medal podium and being on the top was something I'll never forget. My hands were shaking as I heard the U.S. National Anthem playing, as I watched the American flag blow in the wind."

Growing up as a sprinter, Rzepka has used her roots, along with her vaulting roots, to set several start records. During last season's World Cup, Rzepka, along with Pac, broke three start records throughout the year. The highlight record came at the World Cup in Whistler, site of the 2010 Olympics, where the two won the bronze medal.

"The World Cup was so exciting just knowing this was going to be the first race held at the Olympic track, it was definitely an experience," Rzepka told TeamUSA.org. "The track is different compared to any other track we've been on. As a brakeman, the start was the most challenging because it was very steep and very fast.

"The whole ride down was unlike anything I've ever experienced in a sled. It is so fast and you can feel the speed as you go down in the sled. To have another opportunity to be there, I would love to step up to the challenge and see what kind of results we could have."

With the success U.S. has had over the course of the season, the Americans are now one of only two nations to be granted three sleds in the women's bobsled 2010 Olympic competition, with Germany achieving the other honor.

Follow Rzepka, as well as the other 2010 Olympians, at http://bobsled.teamusa.org for up to the minute news and results during the Olympics.

USA I: Rohbock and Rzepka
USA II: Pac and Meyers
USA III: Schaaf and Azevedo