Toward the end of May, the U.S. Olympic Committee paired with NBC Sports Network to search for the "Next Olympic Hopeful." Thousands of applicants tried out, but only 100 made the first cut.
The 100 contestants were divided into four sports: rugby, bobsled, skeleton and track cycling.
With help from a few kinesiology students, environmental science senior Tyler Cobbs was among the 25 track cyclists chosen to train at the U.S. Olympic Complex in Colorado Springs.
“When I first got the email, I didn’t really pay attention to it,” Cobbs said. “It wasn’t until a friend forwarded me the email and said, 'Hey, they’re looking for sprinters.