North Carolina Native Bobsleds Towards Brighter Tomorrow
A driving force behind Team USA Bobsled, Adrian Adams is getting a second opportunity to live out the ‘American Dream’ as he follows in his father’s footsteps.
Growing up in Reidsville, North Carolina, Adams began his athletic pursuits from a young age. He was an all-star on his high school varsity football team, helping them to win back-to-back championships in 2002 and 2003.
His football achievements eventually led him to North Carolina A&T University, where he found himself underneath the stadium lights again as a wide receiver and once graduated he began playing arena football.
Now, he is chasing a dream that is ‘bigger than himself’ with USA Bobsled, falling in love with the sport almost instantaneously.
“Immediately after my first trip down in a bobsled, I was ready to go again,” said Adams. “I grew up loving rollercoaster rides and this felt like that x20.”
Adams began the sport of bobsled in mid-2012, following in his father, Randy Russell’s, footsteps. Russell competed in the sport from the 1990’s to mid-2000 and it was from his encouragement that Adams decided to eventually try out for the team.
Since becoming a fierce bobsled competitor, Adams has become an 8x National Team Member, 4x World Championships Team Member, 2022 2-man IBSF World Push Champion, and 2022 4-man IBSF World Push Champion, with numerous gold and silver medals for 2-man and 4-man in North American Cup races.
Despite the accolades, Adams says his greatest strength comes from his community.
From day one Adams says he recognized how much of an influence he had as an athlete to create positive change in his community, and from day one, he has done just that.
At his 9 to 5, he works at a therapeutic boarding school for boys. Here he helps turn around and change young men’s paths back on the right track.
“Kids can look at someone such as myself and story to be or stay encouraged,” Adams said. “I give back simply because without my community I wouldn’t be where I am today. I’m passionate about where I’m from, I want to inspire kids to try different sports and things.”
His advice to athletes who want to give back but are lost on where to start? It’s not a matter of how, it’s a matter of just doing it.
Even with his busy schedule, Adams recognizes that to give back means sometimes he must go out of his way to make things happen.
Over the summer Adams and other Team USA Bobsled & Skeleton teammates met in Charlotte, North Carolina, for an Athletes for Hope workshop and four-part service project where he was able to partake in his favorite service project yet with Dream On 3.
During the service project, he golfed and interacted with over 65 children and their families at Top Golf from Take On Sports, an organization that focuses on providing sports and competition for youth and adults with physical and/or intellectual challenges.
What is in store next for Adams and his community? That is to be determined; however, Adams says he looks forward to continuing to serve whenever and however he can.