Lee’s Summit West graduate competes in Winter Olympics with Team USA Bobsled

KANSAS CITY, Mo. (KCTV) - A Kansas City man is competing in the 2026 Milano Cortina Olympics.

Caleb Furnell graduated from Lee’s Summit West High School before going to Utah Valley to run track and field in college. Toward the end of his running career, making the Olympics looked less and less likely.

That’s when the unexpected happened.

“This opportunity arose, and it just kind of fell into my lap,” said Furnell.

Furnell says there are some key similarities between track and bobsledding.

“There’s a lot of sprinting still,” said Furnell. “It’s a lot of lifting weights. It’s in a little bit of a different ratio where I lift a lot more than I sprint now, but otherwise, very similar.”

Furnell is a part of the four-man bobsled team, and he’s the brakeman, meaning he’s the last person to jump in, and he is in charge of pulling the brakes at the end.

“You can hear the wind just curling past you, and then, just, you can hear every little bump on the ice,” said Furnell.

The journey to get to the Olympics has been anything but simple.

“We’ve been on the road in Europe the entire winter, and so it’s hard to be moving from place to place all, like every weekend’s a new place, living out of a suitcase, trying to train in parking garages,” said Furnell.

Furnell also spoke on what it was like representing Team USA at the Olympic Opening Ceremony.

“It was kind of endearing in the way that we were just walking down the main street, and there was just crowds lining the street,” said Furnell. “When USA walked by, like everyone would start USA chants.”

Although he is thankful to compete in Milan, there are a few things he’s looking forward to when he finally gets back to the United States.

“I’m super excited to actually be home and sleep in my own bed, but also I’m craving some American food right now,” said Furnell.

Furnell has a message for everyone who’s supported him throughout his journey.

“I would like everyone to know that the support that they’ve given me has played a huge role in where this has led me to be, and so every little piece has built me up to this,” said Furnell.

Viewers can watch Furnell compete in the Winter Olympics on Saturday, February 21, starting at 3 a.m. CST.