From Social Media to Olympic Ice: Ryan Rager's Unbelievable Bobsleigh Ascent
Ryan Rager has captured attention across the bobsleigh world with his meteoric rise. His story stands out because of its incredible speed. Just a few months back, Rager had never even watched a World Cup bobsleigh race. Today, he actively participates in conversations about the USA bobsleigh team for the upcoming Milano Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
The former strength and conditioning coach openly describes his journey as sudden, intense, and wildly exciting. He says the sheer speed and adrenaline rush of bobsleigh embody everything he believes sport should represent.
A Chance Discovery on Social Media
Ryan Rager's entry into bobsleigh began almost accidentally in early 2025. While browsing social media, he came across posts promoting a bobsleigh combine event in Chicago. At that time, Rager worked as a strength and conditioning coach at Cedarville University.
A friend's plan to attend the combine sparked his curiosity. Rager researched the combine events and realized they closely matched the type of training he had practiced for years. He made a spontaneous decision to travel and test his abilities.
Immediate Success and Rapid Progression
That decision transformed his life completely. His performances at the combine proved strong enough to earn an invitation to the USA Bobsled and Skeleton Federation's rookie camp in Lake Placid. There, Rager recorded some of the fastest times ever achieved by a beginner.
Rager later explained that his lifelong dedication to training and fitness kept him prepared for an opportunity he never anticipated receiving.
His progress continued at breakneck speed. After completing rookie camp, he advanced swiftly through the development system. Rager competed at the national push championships in September 2025, where his results secured him a coveted spot on the 2025-26 World Cup team.
He noted that the essential skills for a brakeman—speed and explosive power—were qualities he had trained extensively long before he ever stepped onto the ice.
Full Commitment to a New Dream
Rager soon left his coaching position to focus entirely on bobsleigh. He admits he remains a student of the sport, particularly regarding the technical aspects of smoothly entering the sled during four-man races. He gives credit to veteran teammates for helping him adapt to this demanding discipline.
His initial test runs felt overwhelming, with powerful G-forces and constant movement inside the sled. Yet Rager describes those early experiences as unforgettable and genuinely fun.
Olympic Dreams Rekindled
Now, Rager says his Olympic dream feels tangible once more. He once believed that dream had ended with his track and field aspirations. Today, he expresses profound happiness that bobsleigh might become the unexpected path leading him to the Olympic Games.
His journey from complete outsider to Olympic contender in mere months continues to inspire and surprise the sporting community.
