Athlete profile: Justin Wadsworth

Posted: Tue February 3, 1998 at 5:00 PM ET

Athlete notes

Wadsworthis a frustrated skier, but maybe that works for him...results have constantly frustrated US skiers -- as America has one cross-country medal, a silver for Bill Koch in the 30km in 1976...early on, Wadsworth was tagged as "international caliber" but he has been slowed by injuries -- he has only enjoyed two injury-free years since 1991...his latest injury, a broken T6 vertebra came while going over a ski jump during a warm down exercise... "It's starting to take a toll because I am in Bend (Oregon) training by myself 95 percent of the time," says Wadsworth...the reason he now trains by himself is that his coach Torbjorn Karlsen has relocated to Park City, Utah...Wadsworth took a chance out of high school and went to Europe to go to a ski academy -- it was a move that raised eyebrows in the US Skiing community... "I think I made the right decision in going to Sweden for a year after high school and going to a ski academy over there," Wadsworth says. "I mean it's O.K. if an American kid gets drafted into the NBA after one-two years of college, he's a star. But for some reason if a ski racer doesn't go to college everyone looks down on you" ...at the time, Wadsworth was debating between skiing and his summer sport -- rowing...Wadsworth competed in three world junior rowing championships and participated in the 1989 World Rowing Championships..."Cross-country is what I really loved," says Wadsworth. "I've been skiing cross-country since the sEventsh grade. I just turned in paddles for skis, and the water for snow. I just need some results"...Wadsworth's highest world championship finish was 24th in the 30km freesylte at the 1997 World Championships in Trondheim, Norway...he also placed 35th in the 50km classic at the 1994 Olympics in Lillehammer...often, Wadsworth is the lone American male at World Cupe events -- although sometimes he has been joined by Marcus Nash..."Confidence is everything and it comes and goes. When you are the lone fish in Europe it is even harder," Wadsworth explains. "You have to believe it really down deep all the time"... and if he gets the confidence he needs what is he going to do with it?... "Then it's a matter of putting it all together for the '98 Olympics," he says, before optimistically adding. "I think top 10 in Nagano is realistic at this point"...