YANQING DISTRICT, BEIJING — The most admired luger at these Winter Olympics completed Saturday night’s first and second singles runs in 27th place, effectively guaranteeing that his time at the National Sliding Centre will end on Sunday without a medal. But speedy results aren’t the reason why opponents are bending backwards over their sleds to sing his praises.
It is the simple fact that Mateusz Sochowicz of Poland is here among them, competing at all.
“Look at the story,” says Great Britain’s Rupert Staudinger. “It’s crazy.”
“It’s incredible,” says Team USA’s Chris Mazdzer. “It’s badass.”
“Everyone has a huge level of respect for him,” says Tucker West, also of the U.