Gainesville's Lanz fails to make Olympic bobsled team

GAINESVILLE - A Gainesville man's quest for a spot on the U.S. Olympic bobsled team has ended in disappointment.

Rocky Lanz has completed his fourth year of World Cup Circuit bobsledding. Lanz has lived in Gainesville for about 20 years and attended Riverside Military Academy.

The United States Bobsled and Skeleton Federation announced its nominations last week.

The U.S. is looking to equal or even improve on its two-medal performance from the Salt Lake City Games when the American team medaled for the first time in 46 years by claiming silver and bronze in the four-man. This year's games are next month in Torino, Italy.

Even though he wasn't nominated for the team, the federation describes Lanz, 33, as "one of the up and coming athletes for the United States." He had several top ten finishes, including seventh place in the four-man race in Calgary, Canada and Lake Placid, New York.