Olympic bobsled gold medalist Justin Olsen pays visit to TLU
San Antonio native played high school football under Bulldogs' Coach Padron
4/14/2010 5:49:20 PM
(LtoR) AD Bill Miller, Justin Olsen, President Ann Svennungsen, Danny Padron
SEGUIN, Texas -- Olympic bobsled gold medalist Justin Olsen visited Texas Lutheran University on Wednesday for a reception with the campus community and for a pep talk with the TLU football team.
Olsen won a gold medal at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics as a member of the USA's four-man bobsled team. The gold medal was the first for the U.S. in the four-man bobsled since 1948.
Olsen is a San Antonio native and played high school football for TLU Head Football Coach Danny Padron at San Antonio's O'Connor High School.
Olsen was a tight end and quarterback for Padron at O'Connor. Padron is in his first year at TLU as the head football coach.
Olsen will turn 23 on Friday, and the TLU community celebrated Olsen's birthday with birthday cake, cookies and punch at the reception, held in the TLU Alumni Student Center's Graf Lounge.
Highlights of the four-man bobsled competition were shown, and Olsen discussed his Olympic experience and took questions from the gathered crowd.
Olsen spoke with the TLU football team in the afternoon before the Bulldogs hit the practice field for spring drills.