Dearest reader,

I formally invite you to join me in celebrating the remarkable achievement of 1984 Winter Olympian Lord Daniel Campanaro. As a member of the United States four-man bobsledding team, Lord Campanaro reflected on his success.

“Making it on the U.S. national bobsledding team was always my lifelong dream, but to get to that point I knew I would need to put in years of work to be the best in the country,” he said.

When his Lordship was twenty-and-two, he had not only spent his time preparing for the bob track, but doing so all while attending university at Walsh University in Ohio. His Lordship was pursuing his studies in Management Finance with the hope of attending Oxford Uni for his graduate studies.

Lord Campanaro spent his youth being brought up as the son of an Italian couple, enjoying dual citizenship in Italy and the United States. Although his Lordship was still attending university at the hour of the Olympics, he was able to continue his studies through a study abroad program in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina, where the 1984 winter Olympics were held.

“I am so grateful to my lecturers for getting me to this place in my life,” Campanaro said. “I never would’ve thought that at age twenty-and-two, that I would be in a country I’ve never been to with the purpose of competing in the Olympics.”

During his Lordship’s time in Sarajevo, he visited the landmark of where Archduke Franz Ferdinand was murdered and enjoyed a blend of Mediterranean, Middle Eastern and Eastern European foods and flavors. A few of the signature Sarajevo dishes include ćevapi: grilled minced meat sausages, burek: stuffed pastries and Bosanski Lonac: a stew made up of meat and vegetables. All while Lord Campanaro was caught up in his studies and enjoying the native food and culture, he also made sure to keep up his training with his three other crew mates in the bobsled.

“I cannot believe that my own teammate has the time and energy to put the same amount of effort into getting good grades in school as he does with competing in the national Olympics,” a crew mate said.

When it came down to deciding which group member would take on which role, his Lordship’s height contributed to his role as “pilot.”

“Since he was the shortest of us all by at least one foot, we all agreed that he would do best sitting in front,” his crew mate remarked. “I remember seeing him posted in local newspapers always winning new titles when we were younger, maybe around age ten-and-five. I knew that because of his records combined with his height, both the other members of the group and I agreed he would be best as the sled driver also called the ‘pilot.’”

When it all came down to the U.S. team’s performance, they felt very prepared going into the competition and although they didn’t come home as champions, they returned as winners.

“I am so proud with how my team and I competed and scored,” Lord Campanaro said. “Winning eighth place out of 16 teams from around the globe was a real ‘feather in my cap’ as I know we had put in all the hard work to earn it.”

Thereafter, his Lordship continued to train and had every intention of returning to the 1988 Olympics in Calgary until during a practice run when the bobsled malfunctioned and crashed, leaving Campanaro with a concussion and avulsion fracture in his spine, ending his career.

“Although I really wish I could’ve returned with my team to compete in the 1988 Olympics, without the support from my family, friends and peers, I would’ve never thought I would be competing in the winter Olympics at all — nor placing in the top half of all the teams globally in bobsledding. I have put in so much time and effort into school and my sport that I hope I have left a lasting impact and can be seen as an inspiration to all aspiring Olympic athletes.”

Where has Lord Campanaro been since 1984? Why did he disappear? Has he been hiding? Well my dearest readers, I have got exactly what you’ve been looking for. You may ask yourselves: “Lady Montague, how exactly do you know what his Lordship has been up to?” And to answer that, dearest friends, I say that I have my ways.

After the 1984 Olympics, it was made to believe that his Lord had retired his sled. Well, that is what we had thought would happen after his career-ending injuries. But, it seems as though his Lordship has been training the next generation of Olympians. They have been working with Lord Campanaro in the Hoover History Department. Scholars Jim Draher and Adam Wile seem to have much to say regarding his Lordship’s coaching experience — and what their most impactful pieces of advice are.

“Coach Dan always brings a positive mindset to the competition and training and never has a negative word to say about anything,” Scholar Wile said.

What Scholar Draher believes has been crucial advice is that how you look, is how you compete.

“The biggest piece of advice that Coach Dan gave me was you always have to dress for success,” he said. “Belt and shoes always need to match. Brown belt with brown shoes. Black belt with black shoes.”

After working with Lord Campanaro, Scholar Wile explains exactly how it feels to be under the training of a former Olympic athlete.

“It is an honor to be coached by someone who motivates you in so many ways, but especially with positive reinforcement and loud music when we start our training,” he said.

Scholar Draher says that working with a coach such as Lord Campanaro has “definitely motivated me.”

“Have you ever seen the movie ‘Cool Runnings,’ the motivational movie about the Jamaican bobsled team? It’s nothing like that,” he said.

Because of all the time and effort his Lordship has put into qualifying for the Olympics, he wants to ensure that his students train just as hard and put in just as much time to the sport as he did.

“Coach Dan pushes us all to go beyond our limits by continually reminding us about his prior Olympic glory and how we too can achieve the same Olympic glory as he has,” Scholar Wile said.

With Lord Campanaro, he pushes all of his students to be the best he can be, the execution of such varying based on what each individual athlete needs.

“He pushes me through yelling,” Draher said. “As I am practicing, he is constantly yelling BREAD!”

Lord Campanaro has been such an active role model in both Scholars Draher and Wile’s athletic careers.

“You can probably trace Coach Dan’s ability to be such a special trainer back to his days working for Pepsi,” Scholar Wile said. “He was well known to have successfully completed the Pepsi Challenge several times back in the day and that helped prepare him for his Olympic glory days and success as a coach and positive motivator.”

Scholar Draher believes that although Lord Campanaro has many attributes and characteristics that make him special, one stands out in particular.

“Age. Age is what makes Coach Dan a special trainer,” Scholar Draher said. “He’s old.”

Now, that is more how I wanted this story to end, fellow readers. After decades spent in hiding, his Lordship has finally returned to train the next generation of Olympians. Scholars Draher and Wile are set to compete in the 2026 Winter Olympics held in Italy. This is actually wonderful news; because of Lord Campanaro’s dual citizenship, his Lordship will not only be in Italy for his scholars, but will also visit his family. And that, I truly believe, is more important than how the new U.S. bobsledding team places. Or maybe it isn’t…Until Next time, Hoover.

Yours truly,

Lady Montague