January 31, 2022 at 9:45 a.m.
Northwoods native Bolger makes U.S. Olympic Nordic team
Northwoods native Bolger makes U.S. Olympic Nordic team
By by Brett LaBore-
Kevin Bolger, 28, will compete in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing as a member of Team USA for the cross country team. It's his first Olympic appearance.
"I think it's every kids dream comes true especially when it comes to a sport you're super passionate about," he said. "To compete on the world's biggest stage in the sport that you love I mean, that's, that's what's it's all about."
"I think it's a pinch-me moment," parents Sandy and Mike Bolger said. "Really proud and super surreal."
Bolger has been skiing all his life. His Olympic journey started right here in Minocqua where he skied for the Lakeland Nordic ski team at Lakeland Union High School. He then became a two-time Wisconsin state champion.
"Growing up in Minocqua, that's where it all started for me and being part of the Lakeland Nordic ski team from middle school all the way up to high school. Competing out in Winter Park and racing in that flame suit," he said. "I just hope that it gives some kids confidence... on the ski team that if they set their mind to it anything is possible when you're coming out of Minocqua."
After high school, Bolger went to train at Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation in Ketchum, Idaho for two years.
"I did that because the college circuit is heavily dominated by European skiers. And coming out of high school, and I'm 18, it's pretty young to go into college and race against some of these European skiers ...who might be in their 20s, or 21, 22, 23," he said.
Next, Bolger set off to ski in college at the University of Utah. He made the NCAAs all four years, was a two-time All-American and U.S. National Champion.
"I think postponing college for two years and then going into college when I'm a little older, 20-21, I think that gave me a little bit more of an advantage coming into a professional career," he said.
Bolger also was the RIMSA Skier of the Year, Athlete of the Year at the University of Utah and team captain for the Utes his senior year as well as a team NCAA championship.
Bolger won the SuperTour three times in 2018 and was ranked No. 1. He took first in the sprint freestyle in Ishpeming, Mich. in 2018. Then, he won again in Craftsbury, Vt. and Boseman, Mont.
"The SuperTour is the U.S. domestic series when you're out of college and you're still pursuing a professional career in skiing and if you're not on the World Cup, you race in super tours back home in the U.S.," he said.
In 2018, Bolger competed in his first World Cup. He's been on the World Cup team every year since then. He made his World Cup debut in Lahti, Finland in 2018 where he finished 11th in the freestyle sprint.
"The ultimate goal is to make the World Cup and make the U.S. ski team and spend your winters over there racing against Europeans for four-five months out of the year," he said. "Being able to do that gave me a lot of confidence and helped me become a better skier. It's that next stepping stone into hopefully qualifying for the Olympics."
Bolger has now been skiing on the World Cup team for a total of five seasons.
This World Cup and SuperTour experience helped Bolger make the Olympics this year.
"There was four different kind of categories or criteria that was set (to make the Olympic team)," he said. "One of the criteria was ranked in the top 50 in either sprinting or distance racing. I was ranked top 50 overall for sprinting which that objectively qualified me for the team."
When Bolger isn't competing, he trains at the Sun Valley Ski Education Foundation as well as in Sweden.
"Breaking it down it kind of looks like a four-week glove where you have a big volume week, an intensity week, a recovery week or a just kind of like base week, but I'd say the most re-occurring session that we do throughout the summers is you're putting in hours on roller skiing or running," he said. "It could be a three-hour workout in the morning and a two-hour workout in the afternoon."
The Winter Olympics begin Feb. 3. Between now and then, Bolger is training in Italy.
"The name of the game is staying healthy, trying to dodge COVID, we're in a super safe bubble here with the team," he said. "All the hard work is done so now it's just the fine tuning and getting up for some good skiing."
Bolger opens his Olympic competition Feb. 8 with the skate sprint.
"Then after that I'm not sure what I'll be competing in. Hopefully I'll get more starts," he said. "For me, it's been more than just making the Olympic team. It's going to the Olympics and coming back with the result that I want and that's to finish in the top 10 in the skate sprint. I might call myself a dark horse, but I'm not going to rule myself out for the podium at all. If I'm feeling good, and things are going the right way, I think it could be a special and fast day."
It wasn't an easy journey as Bolger missed out on a couple of opportunities early on in his career.
"He never made the Junior Worlds team, the U23 (team). He always just missed - those were the big stage one as juniors and he always missed out on those," Mike Bolger said. "But it never deterred him. It's what kept him working harder and harder. A lot of those guys that were winning those aren't even skiing anymore."
Make sure to catch Bolger make his Olympic debut when the Games start up Thursday, Feb. 3 on NBC.
Brett LaBore may be reached at [email protected] or [email protected].
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