“It's surreal. Growing up you watch those ceremonies and you’re like, ‘what does it feel like?’ and it might have been a little bit different for us because of Covid, nobody really watched it, but it was still an amazing experience. Just stepping on the podium, among some of the greatest athletes in the world, seeing your flag being raised, grabbing that medal and putting it around your neck, its just something different and no words can explain how happy you are in that moment,” Dawson said. Photo: Vladimir Astapkovich / Sputnik via AP.

BEIJING — Park City’s own Casey Dawson is an Olympic Bronze medalist after the U.S. Speedskating team shocked the Netherlands in the bronze-medal team pursuit, winning by an impressive 2.81 seconds.

Representing the red, white, and blue. Our Men’s Team Pursuit Team is bringing home the Bronze Medal 🥉
📸Getty Images pic.twitter.com/tt2E7qtyVu
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— US Speedskating (@USSpeedskating) February 15, 2022

Following a tremendous journey, which included four negative COVID-19 tests, several red-eye flights, nearly 12,000 miles traveled, and the temporary loss of his blades along the way, Dawson’s relentless pursuit to make it to Beijing was finally rewarded.

After a disappointing outcome in the semifinal against the Russian Olympic Committee, Dawson and his teammates refused to be denied a spot on the podium and shifted their focus to the bronze medal.

Utilizing their unique strategy of maintaining one skating leader the entire race, as opposed to switching out like most other countries, the U.S. dominated the Dutch who appeared to be out of gas down the final stretch.

BRONZE for @TeamUSA! 🥉
They beat the Netherlands in the men’s team pursuit! #WinterOlympics | #WatchWithUS
📺 : @USA_Network and @peacockTV
💻 : https://t.co/DaRR18atEa pic.twitter.com/1ARtIT7A4P
— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 15, 2022

This victory for the Americans marks the second speedskating medal for the U.S. in Beijing. It also marks just the second U.S. medal in the team event since the competition was added to the Olympics back in the 2006 Turin games.

While the victory is a momentous achievement for both the country and team as a whole, it makes Dawson’s adventurous journey to Beijing that much sweeter as he’ll return to Park City as an Olympic medalist with a piece of historic hardware.