Episode 52
Dr. Curt Tomasevicz
In this episode of the Research 2 Reps Roundtable, I sit down with my co-hosts Ted and Ernie to welcome Dr. Curt Tomasevicz—Olympic gold and silver medalist, high-performance director, and assistant professor. Curt takes us on his journey from growing up in a small Nebraska town to competing in three Olympic Games and now balancing multiple roles in sports performance and academia. He shares what it takes to identify, train, and develop bobsled athletes who can handle the unique demands of the sport.
We dive into what makes the perfect bobsledder, from their blue-collar work ethic to their mental toughness and ability to thrive under pressure. Curt unpacks how he looks for talent from diverse sports backgrounds, and how athletes who just missed their dream in one sport might find new opportunities in another. If you’re a strength coach, sports scientist, or simply curious about elite athlete development, you won’t want to miss this episode.
In part two of our Research 2 Reps Roundtable with Dr. Curt Tomasevicz, we dive deeper into the science behind bobsled training, mechanics, and athlete development. We talk about how video analysis and biomechanics shape the training of elite bobsledders, from sprint mechanics to start technique. Curt shares how his engineering background uniquely informs his work with sled design and athlete feedback, making the sport a blend of science, engineering, and raw athleticism.
We also explore talent identification—how the team scouts athletes through combines (both virtual and in-person) and what physical and mental traits they look for in new recruits. Curt breaks down the different roles in the sled, the importance of reaction time, and why pilots are often former push athletes. We wrap up with a discussion on athlete longevity, common injuries, and some great book recommendations that every coach and athlete can learn from. This episode is packed with insights for anyone passionate about strength and conditioning, sports science, or building elite athletic performance from the ground up.
Big thanks to podcast sponsors, Sorinex and EliteForm, for making these episodes possible.
Related Episodes
Episode 58: Dr. Catherine Saenz
Episode 58 Dr. Catherine SaenzIn this episode of Research 2 Reps, we're joined by Dr. Catherine Saenz for a conversation that starts with her path through exercise science, nutrition, research, professional baseball, and academia. Dr. Saenz has built a career at the...
Episode 57: Dr. David Tenney
Episode 57 Dr. David TenneyIn this episode, we sit down with Dr. David Tenney, one of the pioneers of sports science and high performance leadership in North America. Tenney shares how his career evolved from practitioner to leader and why he became interested in...
Episode 56: Iron Neck, Mike Jolly, Adam Davis
Episode 56 Iron Neck w/ Mike Jolly & Adam DavisNeck exercises and explained why multi-planar movement, full ranges of motion, and neuromuscular control matter so much more than just loading the neck in one straight line. What stood out to me was the bigger...