Gaucho Medal

Former UCSB track and field standout Valerie Fleming – along
with teammate Shauna Rohbock – took home an Olympic silver medal
this week in Italy for her pushing prowess in the women’s
two-person bobsledding event. Twenty-nine-year-old Fleming was a
sprinter and javelin tosser during her days at UCSB, but started
racing bobsleds in 2003. Her podium appearance Tuesday night came
as a complete surprise to viewers as the other, heavily favored
American sled team – comprised of Vonetta Flowers and Jean
Prahm – did not even medal.