Gold-medalist bobsledders honored by USOC

The Night Train pulled off a repeat.

No, the popular bobsled crew didn't win another World Championship — yet.

But the four-man bobsled crew of USA 1, including Park City's Steve Holcomb, was named the USOC's 2010 Team of the Year. The group — Holcomb, Steve Mesler (New York), Justin Olsen (Texas) and Curt Tomasevicz (Nebraska) — won the first U.S. gold medal in four-man bobsled since 1948 last February in Vancouver.

"To win the team award this year is huge," said Holcomb, who hopes to defend the World Championship the team won last winter in just a few weeks. "There were so many teams out there that did awesome. We were the most successful Olympic team ever, and to just choose one would be incredibly hard."

Still, he said, his competitive nature allows him to appreciate the honor that was announced by the USOC Tuesday.

"I still want to win everything I can," he said, laughing.

Mesler retired after the 2010 season and Holcomb said Steve Langton is doing his best to fill big shoes.

"Langton is doing a great job filling in where Mesler left off," said Holcomb, pointing out that different athletes have different styles. "Today we did four-man training in St. Moritz and it was only their eighth push together. Thankfully it's an off-Olympic year."

He said the team is trying new equipment, new techniques and just trying to defend that World Championship. He admits the lure of an Olympic Gold medal made motivation easy to come by last season.

"It's different in a few ways," said Holcomb. "After winning the World Championship, we still had the carrot of the Olympics. … But now you've eaten it, and it's fantastic. It's the best carrot I've ever had."

Still, he said, the team is hungry to prove they're still the best in the world — and to do what they can to prepare for Sochi.

"Once you win a gold medal, you might lose interest, and then again, maybe you'll think, how about winning two?" he said.

In addition to USA 1, alpine skier Lindsey Vonn was named 2010 Sportswoman of the Year and figure skater Evan Lysacek won 2010 Sportsman of the Year. Vonn, also a repeat winner of the honor, won a gold in downhill and a bronze in super G in Vancouver. She recently set a new record for World Cup victories in alpine skiing with her 39th win. She was also named the Associated Press' Athlete of the Year and is the first alpine skier to earn that award.