Zhangjiakou, China – American freeskier Nick Goepper, a lifelong Cincinnati Bengals fan, is heartbroken.
For the first time in 33 years, his beloved team will be playing in the Super Bowl. Joe Burrow's Bengals will face the Los Angeles Rams on February 13th, and therein lies the problem with Goepper.
The two-time Olympic medalist is battling a “very bad internal struggle.” The 27-year-old has never seen his team play in a Super Bowl. He grew up 40 miles from the stadium.
However, the match's kickoff time is just before he will compete in the slopestyle qualifiers for the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.
“If the timing is right, I think I'll be able to watch the first half before practicing for slopestyle qualifying,” Goepper said. “But I don't know if the Bengals are bad or not, but I don't know if it's going to affect my performance. So it's kind of a risk.”
Goepper will aim to win an Olympic medal and advance to the next day's 12-person final. He won a bronze medal in 2014 as part of a U.S. championship and a silver medal at the PyeongChang Games four years ago.
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One thing is for sure: he won't be able to compete in his team's colors. Goepper was wearing a Bengals jersey the day the Bengals defeated the Titans in the divisional round at the slopestyle finals at the X Games in January. Team USA uniforms must be worn here.
Even if he decides to focus on his sport first for now, he'll probably end up rooting for the Bengals from the inside out.
“I think on qualifying day you stop paying attention to the game and just hope they win,” he said.
