From Athletic Training to Olympic Ice: Ryan Rager Joins Team USA Bobsled

Van Wert County native and Cedarville University alumnus and Athletic Trainer Ryan Rager has officially been named to the U.S.A. World Cup Bobsled Team, marking an extraordinary transition from collegiate athletics and athletic training to the world stage of winter sports.

Rager, who specialized in the 400-meter dash for the Cedarville Yellow Jackets, is now training at the Olympic facilities in Lake Placid, New York, as he prepares for the World Cup circuit and a potential spot in the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina, Italy.

Rager was selected as a brakeman, the last athlete to enter the sled at the start and the one responsible for pulling the brake at the finish. It’s a role that demands explosive speed, precision, and strength — qualities Rager honed both as a sprinter and later as a strength and conditioning coach and Athletic Trainer at his alma mater. Until resigning in September to pursue bobsled full-time, he served Cedarville’s men’s basketball program in both capacities.

“Training and competing have always been part of who I am,” Rager said. “My experiences at Cedarville as both an athlete and a coach prepared me for this new challenge in bobsledding.”

His journey began in May 2025 at a U.S.A. Bobsled combine, where athletes were tested on sprinting and explosive power. Rager’s standout performance earned him an invitation to rookie camp, and he quickly advanced through training sessions and push competitions. Rising from novice to national team member in just a few months, he now joins a roster that traditionally includes only about 15 men — most of whom come from elite football or track programs.

“The competition was intense, but it was also exciting to train alongside athletes who are so committed to their craft,” Rager reflected. “Everyone in the sport is here because they love it.”

Rager’s story underscores the broad impact of Athletic Trainers — not only guiding athletes from the sidelines but, in rare cases like his, stepping directly into elite competition. His expertise in strength, recovery, and injury prevention gives him a unique edge in one of the most demanding winter sports.

As he heads to Europe this fall for the World Cup circuit, Rager represents not only Team USA but also the values of athletic training, discipline, and resilience.

“Cedarville taught me to pursue excellence in everything—on the track, in the weight room, and now on the Olympic stage,” he said.

With athletes like Kaysha Love, Kaillie Humphries-Armbruster, and Elana Meyers Taylor leading the way, and newcomers like Rager bringing fresh energy, the U.S. bobsled team is blending experience with new talent as it looks toward Olympic glory. Read more here!