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The third time might be a charm for Nordic Combined USA Ski Team member Taylor Fletcher, but his first Winter Olympics without his brother Bryan by his side is a whole new experience. “When Bryan retired, it was definitely a big change for me,” Taylor says. “Not only because he’s my brother, but he’s the best teammate you could ask for.”

The brothers have been training side by side for two decades and competed in two Olympics together, in 2018 and 2014. “It’s definitely hard without him here,” Taylor continues. “We were always the siblings that bickered and pushed each other, and that benefitted both of us. Our results speak for themselves.”

Even if they’re not physically together, Taylor says he’s been in constant communication with his brother all season leading up to the Olympics. “I still want to know what he thinks, and we’re still bickering to this day. But it’s definitely weird not having him on the circuit. Going into the Olympics without him is hard, just because competing together has been the norm for us for so long,” he says. On top of the pressure of Taylor’s solo mission is the added stress of the pandemic, including having to compete without any spectators to cheer him on.

Still, Bryan isn’t too worried about his younger brother. The 35-year-old has settled down with his wife and two kids in Heber City, Utah and remains characteristically positive and optimistic. “Looking at the sport now from the outside makes me appreciate what an amazing opportunity it is to compete at this level. I’ve tried to help Taylor understand that, despite the pressure he is under. I try to guide him as much as possible and to remind him to continue having as much fun as the day we started.”

That day was literally a lifetime ago for the Steamboat-born brothers, who fell in love with ski jumping when they were four years old. Growing up in Steamboat where the 90-meter ski jump dominates the landscape, not only in downtown but in filling the minds of aspiring young athletes with dreams of competing in the Olympics, the Fletcher brothers’ fate was sealed before they were old enough to enter grade school. Ultimately it would be Nordic Combined, a sport that involves ski jumping and cross-country skiing, that was a natural fit for both boys. They both craved the competition of racing (against each other and whoever else happened to be in the field), but even more importantly, they both loved to fly.

“Growing up in Steamboat with those jumps right downtown, it was the biggest thing in the world to me. All I wanted to do was hit those jumps, and from day one I was hooked,” Bryan says. “The feeling is just like flying. It’s the best feeling and it’s what keeps us wanting more.”

Taylor is a little more philosophical about taking flight. “You have a fraction of a second to get it right or it’s game over. The more you try, the more likely you are to mess it up,” he says, “People compare it to swinging a golf club. It’s a very simple sport, but it can also be the most frustrating thing in the world. “

For Bryan, ski jumping and skiing were what got him through years of chemotherapy treatments when he was diagnosed with leukemia at three years old, a prospect his doctors weren’t too thrilled about but a passion that his parents knew was vital for his survival. For Taylor, it was about chasing his big brother around. “I grew up idolizing Bryan and wanted to do everything he wanted to do, so basically my path was set. I just followed him.”

For the first time in his life, Taylor has also had to overcome several challenges on his own in the last few years, including losing their father, Tim Fletcher, to ALS in 2018. “Losing my father is something I struggle with every single day. It put me in a tough place mentally.” Taylor credits his crew and staff for their support. “If anything, I know my Dad wanted me to continue skiing, and more importantly to enjoy it.”

Today, at 32, Taylor finds himself on the Olympic stage for the first time on his own. Maybe that is why his priorities have shifted from beating his brother and winning a medal to competing for himself. “Knowing this could be my last Olympics, I’m just allowing myself to have as much fun as possible, and ironically, it’s allowing me to do better.” Bryan remains hopeful that it could be his brother’s best Olympics yet. “Anything can happen with this Olympics,” Bryan says. “With the strides Taylor has made in the last of couple months, anything is possible.” Maybe for Taylor, the road less traveled is the one that leads to gold.

 

 


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