Randy Jones (bobsledder)

Randy Jones (born June 24, 1969 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina) is an American bobsledder. Jones competed in both the 2-man and 4-man events in four Winter Olympics.

High school

Jones attended Robert B. Glenn High School in Kernersville, North Carolina and was a standout track and football star. Jones was a big part in leading the school to a state championship in track in 1986. Jones graduated from Glenn High School in 1987.

College career

Jones attended Duke University where he played football and ran track while earning a computer engineering degree. Graduating from Duke in 1991, he still holds five team football records for Duke in kick returns and was also a record-setting track athlete.

Bobsledding career

Jones' track coach at Duke convinced him after graduating to tryout for the U.S. Bobsled team. Combined with a desire to see the world, Jones accepted the invitation to join the team. He won the National Brakeman and Side Push Championship twice in both 1992 and 1995, along with the World Cup and Overall Championship in 1992-93.

Jones made his Olympic debut in 1994 in Lillehammer, finishing 13th in the 2-man event. He came up short in the 1998 Winter Olympics in Nagano as the 4-man team with driver Brian Shimer and pushers Chip Minton and Garrett Hines missed by .02 seconds of winning a bronze medal, finishing fifth. Jones also finished tenth in the 2-man event with Hines as his teammate in Nagano.

After winning four World Cup medals, 2002 saw Jones have the best year of his career in bobsledding. At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Jones along with driver Todd Hays, won a silver medal in the 4-man event. This marked the first time since 1956 that the United States won a medal in men's bobsledding. Jones also won three medals in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships with a silver (2003) and two bronzes (1993, 1997).

In 2005-06, Jones' best finish in the World Cup was second at the 4-man event held in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He was at the 2006 Winter Olympics, but did not run in either competition. Jones is now part of the United States Olympic Committee and is widely considered as the most decorated bobsledder in U.S. history.

Personal life

Jones is married to his wife, Cheri, and currently resides in Atlanta, Georgia. Jones and his wife Cheri also have twins, Roman and Marissa, who reside with them in Altanta, Georgia.

References

* [http://sports123.com/bob/mo-4.html Bobsleigh four-man Olympic medalists for 1924, 1932-56, and since 1964]
* [http://sports123.com/bob/mw-4.html Bobsleigh four-man world championship medalists since 1930]
* [http://www.blackpressusa.com/news/Article.asp?SID=4&Title=Departments&NewsID=2529 Black Press USA profile]
* [http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/print?id=1305837&type=Story&imagesPrint=off ESPN.com profile on Jones]
* [http://www.sportresult.com/sports/bs/db/biography.asp?p_id=100519&nat=&sport=&sex=&season=&stat=&venue=&events= FIBT profile]
* [http://www.usoc.org/26_696.htm United States Olympic Committee profile]
* [http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/torino2006/usa/Randy+Jones/606885 Yahoo! profile of Jones at the 2006 Winter Olympics]