Jeremy Bloom: Skiing down mountains of white, will he come up with gold?

Interview, Feb, 2002 by Allen St. John

If you're looking for Winter Olympics excitement, make sure you're in front of the television when American mogul skiing phenom Jeremy Bloom takes his run.

In his quest for gold at this month's Salt Lake City Games, Bloom will attempt to pull off a daring move known as a "720 Iron Cross." Speeding his way downhill, he'll launch himself into low-earth orbit, making two full revolutions with his skis crossed behind him. If the 19-year-old Loveland, Colorado, native can pull it off, he may very well end up on the medal podium. If he fails, he could end up in traction. "Going 35 miles-per-hour on icy VW-size moguls," he explains, "man, they hit harder than a linebacker."

And Bloom should know. Once the Games are over--win or lose--he'll trade in his ski boots for a pair of cleats and head to the University of Colorado, where he's slotted to start at wide receiver on the school's powerhouse football team, his sights ultimately set on the pros. While the two sports might seem an eclectic pairing of pursuits, Bloom's passion couldn't be more familiar: "A gold medal and the NFL... it's the American dream."