Behind The Gold On KPCW

A look back at Olympic history in the lead up to the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi.0000017b-652b-d50a-a3ff-f7efae760000Park City's love affair with the U.S. Ski Team traces back nearly 40 years, when the team first made its home at the Park City Ski Area in 1974. Since then, Parkites have felt a special kinship to the team and the great athletes who have made our community their home. America has a great love affair with the Olympics. Over 200 million Americans will tune in February to NBC's broadcast. KPCW will take you behind the scenes in the months leading up to Sochi as noted Olympic historian and U.S. Ski Team spokesman Tom Kelly - a well known voice on KPCW Radio and a veteran of eight Olympics-brings alive those great moments in U.S. Olympic history in Behind the Gold.A new Behind The Gold airs Monday mornings at 8:30 AM and repeats Friday afternoons at 12:30 PM.Behind the Gold is sponsored by Rosenberg Cooley Metcalf.and the Utah Olympic Park 'Road to Sochi' events.

Behind The Gold: Bobsled Champion Billy Fiske

By Tom Kelly

Published December 2, 2013 at 5:49 PM MST

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A two time Olympic champion, this bobsledder gave his life for his country.

Hi, this is Tom Kelly and I’ll be right back with the Olympic story, Behind The Gold.

The second Olympic winter games came to St. Moritz in 1928, where the fabled Cresta run brought legendary status to the bobsleigh event. Among the favorites in the new five-man competition, team USA with 16-year-old driver Billy Fiske.

Born to a New York banking magnate, Fiske discovered bobsleigh in France and set his sights on the 1928 Olympics. With a quickly assembled team, Fiske went on to an upset win in St. Moritz.

Four years later, Fiske took leave of his job to head to lake placid. Conditions were horrible with the event delayed until after the closing ceremony. Once again, this time in the four-man sled, it was Billy Fiske doubling up with gold.

Fiske passed on an opportunity to drive in Garmisch-Partenkirchen in 1936. Ever the patriot, a few years later Fiske volunteered to fly for the royal air force as world war two was beginning. Sadly, he became the first American flier to die in the war.

Billy Fiske remains, today, the only American to win two bobsled gold.

This is Tom Kelly with Behind The Gold. Only in Park City. Only on KPCW.

Behind the Gold is sponsored by Rosenberg Cooley Metcalf and the Utah Olympic Park 'Road to Sochi' events.