An official website of the United States government
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Home : News : Article View
NEWS | March 12, 2010

Tavares reflects on golden Olympic memories

By Tim Hipps Family and MWR Command

WHISTLER, British Columbia - U.S. Army World Class Athlete Program bobsled coach Sgt. Bill Tavares was the man behind Team USA's athletes as they blasted off the starting block throughout the 2010 Olympic Winter Games at Whistler Sliding Centre.

Tavares, 46, a five-time Olympian and former New York Army Guard member from Lake Placid, considers manning the sleds a labor of love that keeps him young because the Olympic experience never grows old. There's a lot of testosterone in the air - a whole bunch of high-fiving, fist-banging, hooting and hollering - as the athletes psych themselves for the fastest possible 30-meter push of a sled.

Whether it was two-man, women's or four-man competition, Tavares was the man wrapped in a red, white and blue star-studded coat standing behind Team USA's bobsledders atop the mountain in Whistler.

"It feels great," said Tavares, who assisted U.S. bobsled head coach Brian Shimer, who awaited sleds at the finish line. "It's pretty cool being at the top. We know right away if we're standing good or it's going to be work for the driver to make it down. "

Tavares and Team USA were ultimately rewarded Feb. 27 when former Utah Army National Guardsman Steven Holcomb drove the "Night Train" team of Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler and Curt Tomasevicz to Olympic gold in the four-man event.

"Each team has their own little ritual," Tavares said. "The women are a little calmer, a little quieter. Holcomb's team, those guys are probably one of the most intense groups around. They are push-happy. When they're going to go, you know you can be witness to greatness."

Team Holcomb's victory ended a 62-year Olympic men's gold medal bobsled drought for Team USA, but Tavares led American women to the podium frequently during that stretch.

In 1998, Tavares was named head coach of the U.S. women's bobsled team. Four years later, he led Utah National Guard Spc. Jill Bakken and Vonetta Flowers to the first gold medal in women's Olympic bobsled history at the 2002 Winter Games in Park City, Utah, where the event debuted for women. That was another monumental victory because it marked Team USA's first Olympic bobsled medal of any color in 46 years, and Flowers became the first African-American to medal in the Olympic Winter Games.

"I've been lucky to be part of two gold-medal appearances at the Olympics," Tavares said. "I was the head coach for the inaugural women's bobsled team in 2002 when they won the gold medal, and now this one is the icing on the cake."

Tavares completed basic training in 1982 and has spent 27 years as a Soldier in the Army and National Guard. He competed at the 1992 Winter Olympics in Albertville, France, where he teamed with Wendel Suckow to finish ninth in luge doubles.

Tavares was named 1999 Developmental Coach of the Year by the U.S. Olympic Committee, signaling the continuation of another phase of his athletic life - all while serving in the Army.

Tavares coached Utah National Guard pilot Sgt. Shauna Rohbock and Valerie Fleming to a silver medal at the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Cesana Pariol, Italy, where they claimed the lone bobsled medal for Team USA. He also backed Erin Pac and Elana Meyers, who teamed to win the women's bronze at Whistler aboard Team USA II.

"The women have medaled in every Olympic event since I've been coaching with them," Tavares said. "And now the men have finally won their gold medal. It's just great to be a part of that. What makes it amazing is that gold medal was won on foreign soil. It's always good to win the World Championships and Olympic gold on foreign soil."

All told, Tavares had a coaching hand in Team USA winning two Olympic gold and one silver medals, one gold, two silver and three bronze medals at the World Championships, and another 70 medals on the World Cup circuit.

"So I've had a good turn," said Tavares, who intends to continue coaching. "And now we've won a World Championship and an Olympic gold medal with Steve Holcomb, and he's one of our own."

Team USA attended an awards party at the USA House after the four-man bobsled medal ceremony was completed at Whistler Medals Plaza.

"Each of the four gold medalists got up and said something about the coaches and staff that helped them get there," Tavares said. "It wasn't 'I did this, I did that, and this is why I won the gold medal.' It was 'because of all these other people that helped me, this is why we won the gold medal.' I'll tell you, these boys have class."

Tavares thinks Soldier-athletes have an advantage over their civilian peers.

"I think WCAP athletes from any sport have the biggest upper hand on any other athlete because this is sport, it's not the end of the world," he said. "And WCAP athletes have a better understanding of that than any other athlete that I know.

"We can be deployed at any time. Let's get some things under perspective here: we know what our jobs are. We might be athletes and coaches now, but we're Soldiers. This is sport. We're doing our job that we're tasked to do now, but at any time, we could be with the unit and shipped over."

 

 

Related Articles
Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Searcy, the Command Chief Warrant Officer of the Army National Guard, addresses attendees of a warrant officer caucus session during the National Guard Association of the United States (NGAUS) conference in Milwaukee, August 24, 2025. The 147th NGAUS General Conference and Exhibition – which is held annually to connect delegates from all 54 states and territories to discuss the future of the National Guard – took place August 21-25 and featured various events and social gatherings throughout Milwaukee to showcase Wisconsin’s rich history and heritage.
Searcy Leaves Legacy of Advocacy for Warrant Officers in Army Guard
By Lt. Col. Carla Raisler, | Aug. 28, 2025
MILWAUKEE, Wis. — Chief Warrant Officer 5 Brian Searcy, the eighth command chief warrant officer of the Army National Guard, will retire later this year after more than three decades of service.Searcy marked the occasion this...

The 111th Electromagnetic Warfare Company conducts training exercise, Operation Golden Corridor in Dahlonega, Georgia, August 15, 2025. Throughout the duration of the exercise, Soldiers simulated peer and near-peer electromagnetic warfare scenarios and enhance unit proficiency in spectrum mapping, RF detection, and alternative radar awareness capabilities under austere conditions.
Georgia Guard Company Leads in Electromagnetic Warfare Modernization
By | Aug. 27, 2025
DAHLONEGA, Ga. - The Georgia Army National Guard’s 111th Electromagnetic Warfare Company, based in Forest Park, Georgia, is rapidly establishing itself as a leader in the Army’s modernization efforts within the...

Soldiers from the 1st Battalion 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard, and the 1st Battalion 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard, participated in the annual Logan-Duffy Shooting Match, August 21, 2025, at Fort Devens, Massachusetts. The history of the Logan Duffy Rifle Match goes back nearly 90 years to the first match, which was held in 1936.
Massachusetts, New York Guard Members Compete in Historic Logan-Duffy Rifle Competition
By Sgt. 1st Class Steven Eaton,   | Aug. 27, 2025
DEVENS, Mass. – Soldiers from the 1st Battalion, 182nd Infantry Regiment, Massachusetts Army National Guard, and the 1st Battalion, 69th Infantry Regiment, New York Army National Guard, participated in the annual Logan-Duffy...