Before taking up bobsledding, Bryan Sosoo was a MAAC champion in both the 60-meter and the 200-meter for Monmouth University. He set the school record in the 60, with a time of 6.71. Courtesy Monmouth Athletics 
Monmouth University graduate Bryan Sosoo will represent the United States at the 2026 Winter Olympics in bobsled. Courtesy USA Bobsled
By John Spinelli
WEST LONG BRANCH – It’s not often an athlete from a warm-weather sport makes the transition to a winter-based one, especially on the world stage.
But for 29-year-old Bryan Sosoo, a former track star at Monmouth University, the dream of being an Olympian will become a reality Feb. 7 when he competes for Team USA Bobsled.
“When I first heard that I made the team, it was both a moment of relief as well as confirmation,” Sosoo said, happy the last 18 months of effort came to fruition.
Before he embarked on his bobsledding career, Sosoo had a decorated resume as a collegiate and semi-professional track and field star. Originally from Laurel, Maryland, he was recruited to West Long Branch in 2014 for both the long jump and the sprinting events. During his time at Monmouth, Sosoo was a three-time MAAC Conference Champion in the 60-meter (setting the school record at 6.71 seconds) and once in the indoor 200-meter. He was also part of the 2019 IC4A Championship 4×100-meter relay team.
Once Sosoo graduated, he became a member of the Central Park Track Club in New York City. But in August 2024, he decided to change the trajectory of his athletic career.
“The transition was rapid,” he said. “After wrapping up the season, I knew I wanted to take a break from track and field, but I didn’t expect bobsled would come knocking.”
Sosoo learned about the sport from former Olympian Curt Tomasevicz, who was recruiting new athletes for the 2024 season.
“The transition was interesting because I was on the ‘heavier end’ as a sprinter, but on the ‘lighter end’ of being a bobsledder,” Sosoo said. “My first year of training was utilizing my speed and power and applying it to push a sled fast. This earned me a spot on the World Cup team in 2025 as one of three rookies.”
“He was the best kind of leader you want to have on a team; he was always a great mentor to the younger athletes,” said Joe Compagni, his former head coach at Monmouth.
“Qualifying for the team with little over a year in the sport is a testament to his work ethic and coachability to learn new skills,” he said. “I recall his strength as a sprinter. He was explosive when he started in the first 30 meters of a 60-meter or 100-meter race. I’m excited to see him bring that long-time experience as a (bobsled) pusher in the first 50 meters of acceleration.”
Sosoo trained in Lake Placid, New York, and Park City, Utah, while working and seeing to family obligations. “This past season, with the support of my job, I was able to work part-time while the team was in Europe in November for our World Cup,” he said, noting the sacrifices he and other prospective Olympians often make.
“With any type of sport, it’s a tradeoff decision, requiring strong time management and discipline,” Sosoo said. “Since I had been competing for a while, I didn’t have any new sacrifices, but the ones that I had became amplified.”
One of those sacrifices was traveling and competing for up to 10 days at a time in different time zones.
Sosoo joins an elite group of Hawks who’ve made it to the Olympics: Wendy Boglioli (swimming, 1976); Christie Pearce (soccer, 2000-2012); and his former teammate, Allie Wilson, who competed in the 2024 Paris Olympics in the 800-meter.
Sosoo reflected on his experience at Monmouth University, noting the local opportunities available compared to a larger school. “The school prepared me for what it was like to excel, prepare, and perform at high levels with a great support system and training, even when conditions and facilities were not ideal.”
“I was able to grow in a smaller program, which speaks volumes to those that I had around me. I still keep in touch with my old teammates today,” Sosoo said. “Being the first winter and male Olympian from Monmouth honestly inspires me to make a statement.”
Former Rumson-Fair Haven football standout Charlie Volker was an Olympic bobsledder at the Beijing Games in 2022, finishing 10th in the two-man bobsled and 27th in the four-man. He retired from competing due to concussions, ending his quest for a second Olympic appearance.
The article originally appeared in the February 5 – 11, 2026 print edition of The Two River Times.
