Advertisement Crestwood man headed to Sochi Olympics Dallas Robinson on US Bobsled team Share Shares Copy Link Copy

The Louisville area has produced a lot of great athletes, but many wouldn't expect to find Olympic bobsledders among them.A young man who grew up in Oldham County is headed to Sochi.Crestwood native Dallas Robinson will be pushing for Team USA."Go fast and hold on. It's like four people getting inside your bathtub going 80 miles an hour," said Dallas Robinson's father, Dutch Hartlage.Dallas Robinson helps reach those speeds with a big push in the beginning, and a tug on the breaks at the end with his head tucked in the sled.How he knows he's at the end of the track -- "By feel. He knows the track and can feel where he is," said Dallas Robinson's wife, Lauren Robinson.Six years ago Dallas Robinson had a feeling."He said, 'I don't know when or how, but I believe I'm going to be in the Olympics,'" said Dallas Robinson's brother, Buck Hartlage.A pulled hamstring kept the Eastern Kentucky University track star from going for the gold in track, but nothing could stop the determination burning deep inside.His family helped light that fire. A younger Dallas Robinson used to race his relatives for fun."And poor little Dallas would come in last," said Dallas Robinson's grandmother, Stella Wallen.But his father told him to never give up."He said, 'You got heart. One of these days you're going to beat all of them,'" said Wallen.His mother didn't anticipate this."I cannot say enough, really can't, because it is just too much," said Dallas Robinson's mother, Sandy Hartlage.She and Dallas Robinson's father had plans to cheer him on in Sochi, but terror threats got in the way."We did save money to go, but Dallas asked us not to," said Sandy Hartlage.While they badly want to be there, Dallas Robinson wants them safe. But they're confident their military son, is in good hands."They are being guarded 24-7. If they go to a restaurant, they have armed guards circling them, in front of them behind them," said Sandy Hartlage.Thousands of miles away his family's behind him, catching every race, and wreck, on TV.The family is filled with pride."Oh my goodness, words cannot even begin to describe," said Dutch Hartlage.Dallas Robinson serves as a brakeman, who pushes the bobsled at the start and then brakes the bobsled during the course to keep it from crashing into the sidewall.