NBC Bay Area’s Garvin Thomas sits down with Los Gatos’ Nick Cunningham, competing in the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang.
Monterey's Nick Cunningham didn't post the times he was hoping for in the men's two-man bobsled event at the 2018 Olympic Winter Games, but he still made sure to soak in and enjoy the experience.
Cunningham and his bobsled partner Hakeem Abdul-Saboor dug themselves into a significant time hole during their first two runs in Pyeongchang, South Korea and were unable to rebound.
VIDEO: Cunningham Sled Finishes 21st in Two-Man Bobsled
Heading into run No. 3 the following day, the bobsled duo didn't have much of a chance to post a time good enough to continue competing into the fourth and final run. Despite facing that discouraging reality, the pair made sure to put forth their best effort in their third run.
"Once the clock struck midnight, it's a new day," Cunningham said. "I can't change anything, so to go into today, I had to just clear my mind. We actually just at the start line, we're like, 'Let's just have some fun, man. We can't change anything. Let's try to get one more run, but if not, let's go out there and celebrate like we just won.'"
nBio:: Karen Chen placed third in ladies' figure skating at the U.S. National Championships in San Jose, Calif. to secure her place on the Olympic team. She has also won national titles as an intermediate and novice skater in 2011 and 2012.
nFun Fact: Chen counts 1992 Olympic champion Kristi Yamaguchi among her mentors.
nBio:: Vincent Zhou is among the youngest Olympic athletes competing at just 17 years old. He took home the bronze in men's figure skating at the U.S. National Championships in San Jose, Calif., helping to secure his ticket to Pyeongchang.
nFun Fact: Zhou logged 800 miles per week driving to training sessions in Southern California while living in Northern California.
nBio: Jamie Anderson has been at the forefront of women's snowboard slopestyle for the past 10 years. She has the distinction of winning the first-ever gold medal in the sport. She is competing in her second Olympics.
nFun Fact: Anderson is one of eight siblings in her family.
nBio:: J.R. Celski is competing in his third Olympics. He has a career total of three medals in short track skating, a silver and two bronze. He is also the world record holder in the 500m.
nFun Fact: Celski is of Polish and Filipino descent, and has a tattoo on his chest depicting the sun and stars from the Filipino flag surrounding the eagle coat of arms from the Polish flag.
nBio: Bowman is a 2014 Olympic halfpipe gold medalist and a 4-time X Games halfpipe gold medalist.
nFun Fact: In high school, Bowman won two state championship as a member of her school's soccer team and was the team captain her senior year.
nBio:: Nick Cunningham became an Olympian just two years after he began competing in bobsledding. He is appearing in his third Winter Olympics.
Fun Fact: Cunningham has tried bull riding. He has also worked as a horseback tour guide.
nBio: Joanne Reid's family has Olympic success in its blood. Her mother and uncle are Beth and Eric Heiden, both accomplished speed skaters. Joanne managed to take up Biathlon despite growing up the very snowless Silicon Valley.
nFun Fact: Reid lists "Firesteel" as her middle name. The name, which her father liked for its quirky spirit, comes from a river near her childhood home in Michigan
nBio: Hilary Knight is a two-time Olympic silver medalist and is competing in her fourth Winter Olympics. She has been instrumental in leading the U.S. team to three world consecutive world championships.
nFun Fact: Knight often refers to her English bulldog, Winston, as her "chunk of love."
nBio: At 6-foot-7, Bryce Bennett is often mistaken for a basketball player. He won the U.S. downhill title in 2013 and is competing in his first Olympics.
nFun Fact: Because of his height, Bennett believes that his spirit animal is a giraffe.
United States bobsledders have been racing in honor of former team member Steve Holcomb who died unexpectedly last year. Cunningham did his best to emulate the late leader on the course.
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"When you have a bad race, you have to forget about it," Cunningham said. "Nobody taught me that more than Steve Holcomb. The bad races he had, he would just shake it off. I had no idea how he did it. So I tried to take a page out of his book and kind of just let it go."
VIDEO: Team USA's Nick Cunningham Frustrated by Lack of Runs
Cunningham still has a shot to reach the podium in the four-man bobsled event later this week.
To watch Garvin Thomas' video, click here.
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