Ex-Princeton football star and Olympic hopeful, 28, medically retires from bobsled after concussion struggles

Former Princeton moving backmost and one-time Olympian Charlie Volker volition not beryllium heading to Italy for the 2026 Winter Games, contempt being a dense favourite to marque the U.S. bobsled team, aft announcing his determination to medically retire. 

Volker, 28, took to societal media to stock the news, which comes little than 2 weeks earlier USA Bobsled and Skeleton volition nominate its Olympic roster.

Hunter Church, Joshua Williamson, Kristopher Horn and Charlie Volker vie successful the four-man bobsleigh lawsuit during the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games astatine the Yanqing Sliding Center successful Yanqing, China, connected Feb. 19, 2022. (Harrison Hill/USA TODAY Sports)

"After sustaining a concussion earlier this season, struggling done the betterment process, and receiving further valuation from our sports med team, I volition officially beryllium medically retiring from bobsled astatine this time," the erstwhile Ivy League moving backmost said successful a station connected Instagram Wednesday. 

CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON FOXNEWS.COM

"I support trying to punctual myself that everything happens for a reason, but it’s going to wounded to not beryllium retired determination with the guys." 

Volker made his Olympic debut successful Beijing astatine the 2022 Winter Games. He competed successful the two-man and four-man bobsled, finishing 27th and 10th, respectively. 

Princeton Tigers moving backmost Charlie Volker (21) runs with the shot during the assemblage shot crippled betwixt the Princeton Tigers and the Harvard Crimson astatine Harvard Stadium. Princeton defeated Harvard 29-21 successful Boston, Massachusetts, connected Oct. 20, 2018. (M. Anthony Nesmith/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)

OLYMPIC GOLD MEDALIST CHLOE KIM GUSHES OVER BOYFRIEND MYLES GARRETT AFTER SETTING NFL RECORD: 'PROUD OF YOU'

"I’m grateful for my teammates, coaches, and the federation for their support. And to those who person watched, cheered, and supported maine done this journey, convey you from the bottommost of my heart. I volition walk connected the love, belief, and encouragement to others, and volition ne'er hide what you each person done for me."

Volker came into the twelvemonth seeming similar a apical contender for an Olympic squad nod, particularly aft mounting a squad grounds successful the propulsion championships successful September. His status apt comes arsenic nary astonishment aft helium did not vie successful a World Cup contention this season. 

Hunter Church, Joshua Williamson, Kristopher Horn and Charlie Volker commencement the four-man Heat 1 astatine the 2022 Winter Olympics successful the Yanqing territory of Beijing, China, connected Feb. 19, 2022. (AP Photo/Dmitri Lovetsky,File)

CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP

A erstwhile prima moving backmost astatine Princeton, Volker finished his assemblage vocation with 1,994 rushing yards, ranking seventh successful programme history, and his 14 touchdowns successful 2018 tied his ain erstwhile people for the sixth-most successful programme history.

The Associated Press contributed to this report. 

Follow Fox News Digital’s sports sum connected X, and subscribe to the Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.