Johnny Quinn is a bobsledder competing for the U.S. at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia.
Here’s the low down on the the McKinney, Texas, native — one of the few Winter Olympians to come from a warm-weather city.
1. He Keeps Getting Stuck in Small Spaces in Sochi
Who would’ve thought Quinn’s biggest foe thus far in the Olympics would be small, closed-in spaces?
On February 8, he was stuck in a bathroom and forced to use brute strength to bust through the door and free himself of insetting claustrophobia.
Quinn tweeted a picture of the aftermath.
…With no phone to call for help, I used my bobsled push training to break out. #SochiJailBreak pic.twitter.com/apZRefgvCO
— Johnny Quinn (@JohnnyQuinnUSA) February 8, 2014
Two days later, the 30-year-old got somehow managed to get stuck in an elevator with teammates David Cripps and Nick Cunningham.
No one is going to believe this but we just got stuck in an elevator. Ask @BOBSLEDR and @Crippsee who were there… pic.twitter.com/Rwg57CBbUU
— Johnny Quinn (@JohnnyQuinnUSA) February 10, 2014
Quinn spoke with Fox’s Laura Okmin after the door-busting incident. Watch below.
2. He’s a Former Professional Football Player
Quinn played wide receiver for the University of North Texas football team from 2002-06. He was part of three UNT teams to win the Sun Belt Conference, and played in as many bowl games from 2002-04.
Quinn also walked onto the North Texas track team and helped anchor the sprint relay to the third fastest time (39.92) in school history.
After going undrafted in 2007, he signed with the Bills and Packers but never made it to the active 53-man roster.
Quinn was eventually signed by the Saskatchewan Rough Riders of the Canadian Football League in 2009.
3. His Training Film Earned Him a Shot With the U.S. Bobsled Team
Johnny Quinn. (Facebook)
Quinn was released by the Roughriders in 2010 after tearing his ACL. According to his Team USA profile, he completed his rehab in less than six months and subsequently began his bobsledding career.
The 6-foot, 220-pound Quinn sent training film to Olympic bobsled athlete Chuck Berkeley highlighting his speed and acceleration from his training at the Michael Johnson Performance Center in McKinney, Texas. Impressed enough, Berkeley passed it along to driver Cory Butner — and Quinn eventually was accepted. His first time in a bobsled was at team trials in Lake Placid, New York, during the 2010-11 season.
Watch Quinn discuss his background and journey to Sochi below.
4. He Owns and Operates TheAthleteWatch.com
Quinn is the owner and operator of TheAthleteWatch.com, a digital platform “designed for student-athletes to market their skills to colleges and universities around the nation.”
5. Quinn & the U.S. Bobsled Team Begin Competition February 16
Johnny Quinn. (Facebook)
You can catch Quinn and the rest of the bobsledders compete beginning on February 16.
Click here for the full schedule of bobsled events at the Sochi Olympics.