Holcomb’s bronze ends another 62-year drought

Steven Holcomb might as well be driving USA-62.

Seems like that’s his lucky number at the Olympics.

For the third time in four years and second in just a week, Holcomb snapped a 62-year drought inside the five rings. By finishing third in the four-man bobsled competition on Sunday and winning his second bronze medal of the Sochi Games, Holcomb became the first U.S. driver since Stanley Benham in 1952 — 62 years ago — to win two medals in the same games.

Holcomb won the first gold for the U.S. in four-man in since 1948 at the Vancouver Games four years ago, ending another 62-year barren run. Not long after having his second bronze placed around his neck, Holcomb was asked if he knew how long it had been since an American driver had snagged a pair of bobsled medals in the same games.

“Please say 62,” Holcomb said, flashing a smile. “It’s mind-blow- ing. It’s meant to be.”

So, it seems, was his third-place finish. Unable to catch Russia’s Alexander Zubkov, who became the first driver to win Olympic golds in two- and four-man for a host nation, Holcomb did just enough to hold off Russia-2 driver Alexander Kasjanov. It was the second time Holcomb had nipped Kasjanov on the Sanki Sliding Center track, both coming by 0.03 seconds.

“It was intense,” Holcomb said. “It came down to three-hundredths again, same guy. He hates me, I’m sure.”

Although he doesn’t look like he should be hanging out with his muscle-bound, All-American crew of Steve Langton, Curt Tomasevicz and Chris Fogt, elite athletes and the high-powered motor that propels USA-1, Holcomb is arguably the world’s best driver on ice. Zubkov may have gotten the best of him in Russia, but on a neutral surface, the safe money would go on Holcomb.