Adrian Adams

By Bethany Garretson

Residence: Lake Placid
Age: 35
Family: Mother, Michelle Adams; Father, Randy Russell; Siblings, Randy Russell Jr., Elijah Russell, Rodriguez Russell, Randa Russell
Career: USA Bobsled National Team
Primary Sport: Bobsled
Secondary Sport: Hiking

The black flies are biting. Adrian Adams, a bobsled athlete for Team USA, arrives at the track wearing a black Under Armor T-shirt and pair of navy-blue shorts. 

The air is thick; 85 degrees with 80% humidity. Nonetheless, summer training for the 2022 Winter Olympics has begun in Lake Placid. Adrian swings his arms back and forth, partially to warm up and partially to keep the black flies at bay. His six-foot, 220-pound frame takes the line with three of his teammates, and they begin sprints. In the backdrop of their workout stands the 1980 Olympic Flame Cauldron, a constant reminder of what they are running towards: Beijing.

Adrian does not mind the heat. A native of Reidsville, N.C., he grew up playing football in temperatures nearing 100 degrees under the weight of shoulder pads and a helmet. “I was just an excited kid, running around, picking up and throwing balls all over the place,” he says with a smile. From a young age, whenever he played baseball or football, attention shifted to the skinny Black kid full of energy and explosive speed. 

Raised where football was a community value, Adrian lived the storyline of Friday Night Lights and had an exceptional high school career, leading his team to two state championships and making all-state teams. He went on to play college football at North Carolina A&T State University and played a season of Indoor Football League with dreams to make it to the NFL.

“When football came to an end, I wasn’t done being an athlete,” Adrian reflects. That makes sense since both of his parents were strong athletes and athletic values run in the family. His mother, Michelle Adams, was a talented cross country and track athlete and competed in long jump, triple jump, 200, 400 and the mile. His father, Randy Russell, was also a track and football star, who transitioned to bobsled.

“I got into bobsled by the way of my father, who competed in the late 90s to early 2000s.”

When he was 12, his father was competing, and Adrian had a Dreamcast Nintendo game based off the Winter Olympic games in Nagano, Japan. His favorite sport to play was bobsled. Fourteen years later, he was in a bobsled. Two years later at age, 28 he made the National Team.

A season before the 2018 PyeongChang Olympics, he was in top form and a member of the winning sled for the USA team trials. Then, a back/hip injury sidelined Adrian and kept him from competing in Pyeongchang. He could hardly get out of bed and had to stop training, “I thought my career was over.”

The sport of bobsled has a high physical toll on the athletes that partake and one of the biggest challenges is staying healthy. Sleds weigh close to 400 pounds for two-person and 500 for four-person teams. Speeds reach upwards of 90 miles per hour. Tucked inside the sled, bodies are tumbled and shaken. “Imagine being thrown around in a washing machine,” Adrian grins.

Then there are crashes. “It’s indescribable really. You’re slammed around and holding on for dear life, trying to stay in the sled.” He points to a large circular scar on the top of his left shoulder, an ice burn from a previous crash.

Today, Adrian is 35 years old and a valuable veteran of Team USA with a decade of experience. He’s injury free and training at the new ice-house facility at Mt. Van Hoevenberg for the Bobsled Push Championships at the end of July. “I’m now a lot healthier and stronger. Most people don’t think of that in regard to getting stronger with age.”

With experience, comes wisdom. A valuable lesson he has learned with time and overcoming injuries, is that rest is a huge component to training. “In the past, I overtrained,” he admits.

Now he takes rest days just as seriously as when he steps into the gym. He also gets outside and hikes in the Adirondacks. “I like scenic hikes with waterfalls.” When he ventures out, he brings his camera. “I enjoy taking photos and have an appreciation for the art of photography.” For Adrian, being in nature, “Brings a sense of peace and reflection.”

One of Adrian’s strengths as an elite athlete is focus and dedication. Every day, he watches video of the Xiaohaituo Bobsleigh track in Beijing, China to visualize the turns and how his body will react. “I want to continue to inspire the youth and others to be their best at their jobs, sports, careers.” And he does.

Adrian has been a part of history. In 2014-2015, he was on the first mixed-gender bobsled team with female pilot Elana Meyers Taylor. It’s a highlight of his career. He loves engaging with the public and has given inspirational speeches to elementary-age through college-level students. “Know who you are. Work hard for what you want and let no one tell you how to go about chasing your dreams.”

He’s a role model to many, but even the strongest people struggle. And training during a global pandemic has been challenging, both mentally and physically. The most prized games come around once every four years and even before Covid-19 was a part of our daily lingo, it’s a tremendous stress for athletes to be healthy, and peak at the golden Olympic time. 

Behind the red, white and blue uniforms, the smiles, and medals, are missed holidays and precious time with family. There are also economic stresses. Unlike many European nations, USA Bobsled athletes rely heavily on private donors and sponsorships to cover training and travels costs to make ends meet. He worked for The Contender’s program at Dick’s Sporting Goods at various locations, including Burlington, Vt. and Plattsburgh from 2016 until the program stopped in 2019, stating “It’s tough to balance work and recovery.” 

Adrian does not let any of the hardship stop him. He works his hardest and puts his faith in God. He did not make it to the NFL. He did not make it to PyeongChang. He is not bitter or resentful. Quite the opposite as he’s humble, gracious, and thankful for every day he gets to pursue the sport he loves. He puts his head down and pushes forward, so those turns he visualizes every day, he feels in February.

Follow Adrian Adams on Instagram: @adrianadamsusa and support his GoFundMe site to help cover training and travel costs. Follow USA Bobsled at: teamusa.org/usa-bobsled-skeleton-federation. 

Bethany Garretson (bgarretson@paulsmiths.edu) of Keene is a mountain climber and writer who teaches at Paul Smith’s College of the Adirondacks and advocates for environmental and social issues. Follow her on Instagram: bethany.climbs.