Texas A&M’s first Winter Olympian reflects on bobsledding journey

The textbook sports success story looks a little something like this: An athlete discovers their love for a sport early on, trains hard, encounters stumbles along the way, and ultimately emerges victorious.

But for one San Antonian who became a 2026 Winter Olympian, his story looks a little different.

Boone Niederhofer always knew he wanted to play college football. With his dad’s help, they began emailing clips of him playing to different universities. His highlight reel caught the attention of his dream school, Texas A&M, which offered him a walk-on spot on the team.

Niederhofer’s Olympics portrait. Photo by James Reed

For two years, Niederhofer played on the scout team, also known as a practice squad, before earning some official playing time. From there, he played nearly every game, catching the ball a total of 35 times and accumulating 300 yards. The experience was a big dream come true, Niderhofer said.

And then, during the last regular season game of his senior year, he tore his ACL.

Niederhofer said that while he didn’t expect to play professional football, he knew he was skilled and that if he continued to perform well, he could get invited to prospect camps and be scouted by professional football coaches.

“I felt like my whole life, the only thing I ever wanted to be was an athlete,” Niederhofer said. “It seemed like I wasn’t gonna get that opportunity to continue my athletic career.”

After his football career was cut short, Niederhofer, who majored in engineering, began working an office job. A year and a half later, the company he worked for got bought out, leaving him temporarily unemployed.

During that time, he caught up with his friend and former teammate Sam Moeller. Moeller had transitioned to bobsledding — a sport that shares skills used in football like power, speed and strength — and encouraged Niederhofer to attend a rookie camp.

Niederhofer agreed, and his seven-year journey to the 2026 Winter Olympics ensued.

After taking time to learn and train in the sport, he was named to the U.S. national team during his second season and was a part of the North American Cup-winning team.

Despite these successes, he did not make the 2022 Olympic team, prompting him to return to working in the oil and gas industry.

Niederhofer said when he got the itch to bobsled again, he searched for companies that would allow him to work while competing. After some rejections, he found one.

Niederhofer said that while competing in bobsled without any income was hard, he never regretted trying out for the team. He said it’s cliché, but the experience was truly about enjoying the process.

“I love training. I love getting to compete in bobsled. Pushing a sled with three other dudes is one of the most fun things that you can do. It’s really exciting and intense,” Niederhofer said. “On top of that, you’re traveling to some of the most beautiful places in the world to compete.”

The U.S men’s bobsled team finished fourth in the two-man event and eleventh in the four-man event, which Niederhofer competed in. Niederhofer said during his first race day, he felt incredibly blessed and reflected on all the work it took to get to the starting line.

Getting to represent Texas, his family and A&M was an incredible honor, he said.

“Even though we did not win [and] finish as well as we hoped … it still was incredible and a total dream come true,” Niederhofer said. “There’s definitely a sense of fulfillment in pursuing a dream, whether you are successful or not.”

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