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Shelley Osterloh reporting Two Utah women are piloting bobsleds in Torino today in the first day of competition: Shauna Rohbock from Orem and Jean Racine Prahm, who resides in Park City.
Both train at the Utah Olympic Park.
Jean Prahm, U.S. Women's Bobsledding Team: "Your body just gets thrashed from side to side of the sled and you take some serious hits."
From the outside, bobsledding can look pretty easy. Many people might think it looks more like a leisure ride than a sport. But ask anyone who has ever competed in the sport, and they'll tell you just how rough it can be.
Jean Prahm, U.S. Women's Bobsledding Team: "The truth of the matter is it's really quite a violent ride and if you have ever had a bobsled ride it's an experience you'll never forget."
Jean Prahm had her first taste of sliding on the ice when she was 13, only it was on a luge.
After climbing the luge ranks, she decided to switch to bobsled when she was 17. Since then, she has worked to become one of the top women in the sport.
Jean Prahm, U.S. Women's Bobsledding Team: "To be a good bobsled driver it takes years of experience. You have to travel all over the world. You have to learn the tracks everywhere. You have study them and you have to spend time racing on them."
Many people remember Jean Prahm as Jean Racine. The 2002 Olympian was a Gold Medal favorite heading into the Salt Lake games. But after a last minute decision to switch her brakeman, who later suffered a torn hamstring, Prahm fell to a disappointing fifth place.
In 2003, after taking some time off, Prahm teamed up with Salt Lake gold medalist Vonetta Flowers.
Since then, the duo has had a lot of success, and they are hoping for more in Torino.
Jean Prahm, U.S. Women's Bobsledding Team: "I'm very hopeful for this Olympics. I think I'm not as medal driven as I was before. Mostly because i just want to go and enjoy it."
As for Prahm's post bobsledding plans, she says she wants to spend more time with her husband Ryan, who she married last fall, and have children.
She also may pursue a career in singing. She has already recorded two demo albums and a music video for Eurosport's bobsled theme song.
But for now, Prahm is keeping her focus on the sport she has spent the last 10 years perfecting!
Jean Prahm, U.S. Women's Bobsledding Team: "When I am having a bad day or losing my focus I just try to remember that I'm doing this because I love it. I love bobsled and I enjoy it."
You can watch Prahm and Rohbock compete in their first two runs this afternoon right here on KSL 5.
