Penn alum heads to 2002 Olympics

The University of Pennsylvania will be represented at the 2002 Olympic Games.

Penn alumnus Lincoln DeWitt qualified for the Winter Olympics as a member of the US Skeleton race team.

Although it is not the most well-known or glamourous sport of the Winter Games, the skeleton event's competitors do not lack intensity and talent.

Skeleton is a one-man bobsled event that was eliminated in the 1930s. Luckily for DeWitt, the Olympic Committee ruled that the event be readmitted beginning in the Salt Lake City games. And so, for the first time in over 70 years, the skeleton will once be a gold medal-deserving sport.

DeWitt is hoping to claim the first skeleton medal in almost a quarter of a century.

This is his second year on the US National Team.

Not quite one year ago, DeWitt won the skeleton World Cup in Park City, Utah, against a field of tough competition.

The race was conducted on the Olympic Park track -- the same one that will be used in the upcoming Olympics. This track is building the reputation of being the fastest in the world.

DeWitt did not claim the World Cup with lots of breathing room. The first three places were separated by a mere .03 seconds, one of the closest international races in years.

DeWitt therefore knows that reclaiming the title of the world's best will not come easily.

However, he also has a few advantages.

Park City is not only on American soil, it is also DeWitt's current residence, giving the 34 year-old a distinct home-snow advantage.

Originally born in Syracuse, N.Y., DeWitt moved to Utah after completing his undergraduate education at Penn.

While in West Philadelphia, DeWitt ran track for the Quakers. He specialized in the middle-distance events, in particular the 800 and 1500 meter races.

DeWitt picked up skeleton on a whim while he was working as a ski instructor at Park City.

He admits that skeleton is a sport that does not allow for a large amount of error. The whole race is contingent on not making any mistakes.

In addition to being an Olympian, DeWitt is also currently a computer programmer at Payback Training Systems.

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