Thursday, January 21st 2010

By david koots

McMaster graduate and former Marauder football star Jesse Lumsden will reportedly be named to Canada’s Olympic bobsleigh team on Jan. 27th. Lumsden’s name was submitted by Bobsleigh Canada to the Canadian Olympic Committee, along with teammates Pierre Lueders, Justin Kripps and Neville Wright.

Lumsden is expected to compete in both the four-man and two-man bobsled teams. Lueders, the pilot for both teams, is Canada’s most decorated slider and is a two time Olympic medal winner.

Lumsden was introduced to the sport of bobsleigh last year and saw immediate success with Lueders, winning the two-man event at the Canadian Championships as well as taking top prize at a Europa Cup event.

Despite having had a slow start to the season, which has been plagued by injuries and sickness, Lueders and company will compete for a medal in Vancouver thanks to Lueders extensive experience.

At McMaster, Lumsden was a star running back and a part of some of the most successful teams in recent years. Lumsden set several single season and career records for the OUA and CIS in rushing yards and touchdowns. In Lumsden’s final season, he was named the 2004 Hec Crighton Trophy winner and the 2004-2005 male CIS athlete of the year.

After leaving Mac, Lumsden had short stints with the Seattle Seahawks and Washington Redskins, both of the NFL, before settling in with the Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In Hamilton, Lumsden experienced success but had several seasons cut short due to repeated injuries to his shoulder.

Similarly, the current CFL star had his 2009 season cut short after reinjuring his shoulder in the first quarter of his first game with his new club, the Edmonton Eskimos.

The men’s bobsled competition kicks off on Feb. 20 in Whistler.

Tags: jesse lumsden, olympics