At 20 years old, sophomore Mike Malec has been close to achieving his dream of being in the Olympics for the second time.

Malec was nine years old when he was recruited to try out for the Olympic power walking team. He placed sixth in walking a 5K, but only the top four continued on to training.

"I couldn't tell you how that happened," Malec said. "I was just recruited to try out in 1999. I would have trained to compete for the 2004 or 2008 Olympics had I been a top scorer."

Malec's need for speed continues today as he is currently in the process of trying out for the men's skeleton developmental team. He sent in an athletic resume, completed his first interviewing process and has gone through a few trial runs. Next summer Malec will continue with his second interview in hopes of making the developmental team for the winter Olympic sport.

Malec's older sister is currently on the women's skeleton developmental team. She is his biggest influence.

In skeleton, a reversal of luge, racers push a sled, throw themselves down on their stomachs and race head-first down the track at about 70 to 80 mph. The dangerous nature of the sport led to its banishment from the Olympics between 1928 and 1948.

While on a developmental team, athletes work with Olympic coaches and trainers in hopes of getting a high record in the sporting event which leads to sponsors and hopefully a spot on the USA Olympic Team if one is open, Malec said.

Malec and his family, who are from the Cleveland area, have always enjoyed winter sports. While traveling to Lake Placid, N.Y., they pass the Olympic Training Center, which is where skeleton and bobsled training take place.

"Skeleton is one of those events where you have to know about it to even try out for the developmental team," Malec said. "My sister and I would see them training at the OTC and wondered if we could ever do that. She looked into it further and then the two of us applied to be on the team. You have to take the initiative and try out."

The requirement for filling out an application for the skeleton developmental team is a desire to go fast. The event calls for people with speed, endurance and strength as well as a strong athletic background. Both Malec and his sister ran track and cross country as well as developed an avid interest in winter sports growing up.

During Malec's on-track interview in Lake Placid, he raced on a skeleton track for the first time and hit a speed of 63.6 mph. He ran about 10 trial runs and engaged in other physical activity to demonstrate his athletic capabilities.

"Skeleton is a lot like luge," Malec said. "There's also the fact that you go down head first on your stomach. Imagine driving on the highway going about 70 mph and sticking your head three feet out the window for a minute. It's intense. It's like a roller coaster you can control."

Malec's familiarity with the OTC and involvement in sports gave him and his sister a reason to send in their athletic resumes to the U.S. Bobsled and Skeleton Federation over Thanksgiving break.

Malec is a member of R.O.T.C. on campus and spends his time trying to train for skeleton. He goes to the RecPlex at least 10 times a week, working on speed, endurance and strength. The military supports the Olympics because it provides another outlet for loyalty to the U.S., Malec said.

Malec's parents are also supportive of his dreams, but there has been concern after Olympian Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a luge accident last week. The accident puts a new aspect on skeleton, Malec said.

Malec is optimistic about his process of making the developmental team and he shares that excitement for his sister as well. His sister spends all her time training in Lake Placid. This consists of training on the ice for a few hours, lifting for a few hours and then recovery time during the day.

Malec works as his sister's speed coach, pushing her to run at her fastest, and their dad, who is a personal trainer, also helps coach her.

"The only one pushing you is yourself," Malec said. "Your supporters, coaches and everyone else will follow suit if your heart is in the sport. The feeling is awesome, but it's so intense that you have to keep up with it. You have to want to do this."