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Former Princeton runner and former Olympian Charlie Volker will not travel to Italy for the 2026 Winter Games, despite being a heavy favorite to make the US bobsled team, after announcing his decision to retire for medical reasons.
Volker, 28, took to social media to share the news, which comes less than two weeks before USA Bobsled and Skeleton nominates its Olympic roster.
Hunter Church, Joshua Williamson, Kristopher Horn and Charlie Volker compete in the four-man bobsleigh event during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games at the Yanqing Sliding Center in Yanqing, China, Feb. 19, 2022. (Harrison Hill/USA TODAY Sports)
“After suffering a concussion earlier this season, struggling through the recovery process, and receiving additional evaluation from our sports medical team, I will officially be medically retiring from bobsledding at this time,” the former Ivy League running back said in an Instagram post Wednesday.
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“I keep trying to remind myself that everything happens for a reason, but it’s going to hurt not to be there with the guys.”
Volker made his Olympic debut in Beijing at the 2022 Winter Games. He competed in the two-man and four-man bobsled, finishing 27th and 10th, respectively.
Princeton Tigers running back Charlie Volker (21) runs with the ball during the college football game between the Princeton Tigers and the Harvard Crimson at Harvard Stadium. Princeton defeated Harvard 29-21 in Boston, Massachusetts on October 20, 2018. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
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“I am grateful to my teammates, coaches and the federation for their support. And to those who watched, encouraged and supported me during this journey, thank you from the bottom of my heart. I will pass on the love, faith and encouragement to others, and I will never forget what you all have done for me.”
Volker began the year looking like a top contender for a spot on the Olympic team, especially after setting a team record at the push championships in September. His retirement probably won’t come as a surprise after he didn’t compete in a World Cup race this season.
Hunter Church, Joshua Williamson, Kristopher Horn and Charlie Volker start the Men’s Four Heat 1 at the 2022 Winter Olympics in the Yanqing district of Beijing, China, on February 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky, File)
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A former Princeton star running back, Volker finished his collegiate career with 1,994 rushing yards, ranking seventh in program history, and his 14 touchdowns in 2018 tied his own previous mark for the sixth-most in program history.
