Dreams often take root in our childhood. Sadie McMullen’s passion for track and field propelled her through Valor Christian High School and the University of Wyoming. However, her athletic prowess unexpectedly led her to bobsledding, a sport renowned for its exhilarating speeds of up to 85 mph and G-forces that reach five times a person’s body weight. As the 2025 World Cup season approaches and Olympic aspirations loom, Sadie shares her remarkable journey. With unwavering determination, she aims to carve her name in this demanding sport, drawing strength from her faith, grit and an ever-present sense of gratitude.
2016 - 2020: How It Started
I began competing in track and field in eighth grade through the Valor Christian High School Track Academy led by Brian Kula. I fell in love with training and competing. That decision laid the foundation for my future athletic endeavors.
My freshman year at Valor, I competed for the track team and solidified my passion for the sport. Over the next four years, I honed my skills in various events and developed a deeper understanding of my athletic potential.
In 2020, I was recruited by Coach Quincy Howe as a Division 1 track athlete at the University of Wyoming. I specialized in long jump and short sprints, training under both Coach Howe and strength coach Josh Little. Competing at the collegiate level was intense, rewarding and formative. It laid the groundwork for the unexpected next chapter of my career.
Summer 2024: An Unexpected Detour – The Bobsled Beckons
The summer of 2024 brought an unexpected twist. Coach Howe received an email from Curt Tomasevicz, USA Bobsled Director of Performance, seeking college athletes for a recruitment combine in Salt Lake City. Though bobsled was entirely new to me, I felt a strong pull to explore this icy possibility.
August 2024: Testing the Waters – The Combine Experience
On Aug. 17, I attended the combine in Salt Lake City, an intensive day designed to test speed, strength and power. The atmosphere was electric, filled with athletes pushing their limits. That day, I also met Head Coach Chris Fogt and pilot Kaysha Love, both of whom would later play pivotal roles in my journey.
August 2024: The Invitation to Lake Placid
One week later, I received an official invitation to rookie camp in Lake Placid, New York. My performance in Salt Lake City spoke for itself, and my journey into bobsledding was officially underway.
August – October 2024: 8 Weeks of Training for the Ice
With rookie camp on the horizon, my training underwent a strategic shift. While maintaining my track regimen at Wyoming, Josh Little added weighted prowler sled pushes, a targeted strength and power workout explicitly designed to build explosive power and endurance essential for a bobsled push start.
October 2024: Rookie Camp – An Icy Introduction
I joined 12 other rookies at Mt. Van Hoevenberg in Lake Placid for Rookie Camp. We learned sled mechanics, explosive push techniques and the unique demands required to navigate ice tracks.
Midway through camp, I received an unexpected call from Curt: an invitation to stay three more weeks to train with the World Cup team and compete in selection races. It meant forgoing my indoor track season, but the opportunity was too extraordinary to decline.
October 2024: Rookie Push Championships – Validating the Decision
Days later, I competed in the Rookie Push Championships and delivered results that suggested I had the potential to reach the World Cup stage.
October/November 2024: My First Ride & Training with Elites
I finally took my first bobsled ride with Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor, a disorienting rush of 5–6 G-forces that quickly became addictive.
Along with Elana, I was also mentored by Olympic Gold Medalist Kaillie Humphries and World Champion Kaysha Love.
November 2024: The World Cup Dream Realized
Unseasonably warm weather limited practice time on the track, but I was still able to compete in the World Cup Bobsledder challenges. My performance secured a coveted spot as a World Cup Bobsledder for the 2024-2025 season.
Late November/Early December 2024: Farewell to Track
Before shifting to bobsled full-time, I returned to Wyoming, completed my graduate classes and competed in my last track meet as a Cowgirl at the UW Power Meet. It was a bittersweet farewell to a sport that had given me so much, provided countless memories and shaped me into the athlete I am today.
December 2024: Embracing the World Tour
After Christmas, I officially joined the World Cup circuit.
January 2025: Winterberg – Acclimatization and Learning
My first stop was Winterberg, Germany: a whirlwind of adjustment and learning. I didn’t race, but it was a crucial period of acclimatization, allowing me to absorb the pace and demands of World Cup bobsledding.
January 2025: St. Moritz – A Podium Debut
The moment I had been working towards came in St. Moritz, Switzerland. I competed in my first World Cup race with the legendary Elana Meyers Taylor. It was an exhilarating experience, culminating in a podium finish —a remarkable result for my debut World Cup race.
January 2025: Innsbruck – The Eagles Track
The tour continued its rapid pace. Here I raced alongside Olympic medalist Sylvia Hoffman in Innsbruck, Austria, and loved the challenges of the course. I learned that each track brings its own unique character and learning opportunities.
January 2025: St. Moritz – A Race Lost to Warmth
I returned to St. Moritz to race with Kaillie, but warm weather forced a cancellation, a reminder of nature’s unpredictability and the inherent challenges of winter sports.
February 2025: Lillehammer – Alternate, Patience & Anticipation
During two weeks of training, I served as an alternate brakewoman for the Norway race. Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to compete on that particular track. It was a time of continued learning and readiness, even from the sidelines.
March – April 2025: Lake Placid – The Home Stretch
In the latter part of the season, we returned to Lake Placid for six weeks of training and competition. It felt good to be back where the journey began.
March 2025: World Championships – Ready for Anything
A pinnacle event in the bobsled season, Lake Placid hosted the World Championships. I served as an alternate on Elana’s sled.
April 2025: Pilot Olympic Trials – Season’s End and New Beginnings
The season ended with the Pilot Olympic Trials, where I raced with Lauren Brzozowski. It was the conclusion of a transformative first World Cup season.
September 2025: A Second World Cup Season Confirmed
Building on the incredible momentum of my debut season, I returned to Wyoming for continued training with Coach Howe and Josh Little. At the National Team Push Championships, I secured my spot on the World Cup team for a second season.
January 2026: Olympic Dreams on the Horizon
The highly anticipated Olympic team announcement. My dream is to secure a coveted spot on the world's most prestigious stage and represent the U.S. in Cortina.
February 2026: Cortina, Italy
If selected, I’ll proudly compete in the Olympic Games in Cortina, which would be the ultimate culmination of years of hard work, sacrifice and unwavering dedication to athletic excellence.
Salt Lake 2034: Future Olympic Dreams and Becoming a Bobsled Pilot
Beyond competing as a brakewoman, I aim to become a pilot, racing in both monobob and two-woman events. My long-term vision is to pilot at the 2030 Olympics in La Plagne, France and the 2034 Olympics in Salt Lake City.
Sponsorship: Fueling the Dream
Competing at the highest level demands relentless training, international travel, and world-class equipment, all of which require strong support. I’m seeking partners who share the Olympic spirit and want to be part of this journey from rookie season to the Olympic stage. Together, we can fuel the pursuit of excellence and inspire the next generation of athletes.
For sponsorship opportunities, please reach out to me at sadiemcmullen31@gmail.com or follow along on Instagram at @sadie.macc.
Competing at the highest level demands relentless training, international travel, and world-class equipment, all of which require strong support. I’m seeking partners who share the Olympic spirit and want to be part of this journey from rookie season to the Olympic stage. Together, we can fuel the pursuit of excellence and inspire the next generation of athletes.
The moment I had been working towards came in St. Moritz, Switzerland. I competed in my first World Cup race with the legendary Elana Meyers Taylor. It was an exhilarating experience, culminating in a podium finish —a remarkable result for my debut World Cup race.
Building on the incredible momentum of my debut season, I returned to Wyoming for continued training with Coach Howe and Josh Little. At the National Team Push Championships, I secured my spot on the World Cup team for a second season.