Bill Schuffenhauer: Mormon Athlete

Bill Schuffenhauer is an Olympic athlete and has competed in three Winter Olympics. He was pusher on the four-man bobsled team that took silver at the 2002 Olympics held in Salt Lake City.

Schuffenhauer was born on June 24, 1973, and grew up in foster care in Salt Lake City, Utah. During high school, he lived with his maternal grandmother, and with her help and the help of coaches, he used athletics to avoid his parents’ struggle with drugs and alcohol. He excelled in track and field and became a decathlete. He also played football. While at Weber State University, he won the junior nationals and had aspirations for making the Olympic track and field team. During his training to qualify for the 2000 Olympics, he severely broke his ankle and could barely walk. When his friend told him that the US bobsledding team was practicing in Park City, he went to observe. The team noticed his 6-foot, 200-pound athletic frame and asked him if he wanted to train to be a pusher.

During the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, his two-man team placed 14th and his four-man team finished sixth. His four-man team qualified for the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver and finished 13th. He retired in 2010.

Schuffenhauer has a degree in marketing from Weber State University. He has been a motivational speaker and worked with nonprofits and charity groups. He was part of the Olympic documentary “Against All Odds.” Schuffenhauer is a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.