Lots of people have been complaining about their Sochi hotel rooms during the Winter Olympics – rooms not ready; faucets spitting out water with disgusting hues; doors not working.
Add Winter Olympian and McKinney bobsledder Johnny Quinn to the list of folks with hotel issues in Russia.
But the North Texan took matters into his own hands.
The problem -- and the solution
He wrote on Facebook:
“I was taking a shower and the door got locked/jammed. With no phone to call for help, I used my bobsled push training to break out. #SochiJailBreak”
He showed evidence on Twitter:
...With no phone to call for help, I used my bobsled push training to break out. #SochiJailBreak pic.twitter.com/apZRefgvCO
— U.S. Olympian Johnny Quinn (@JohnnyQuinnUSA) February 8, 2014
And he’s getting lots of media attention:
In the next day or so, tune in with Good Morning America, CNN, Fox Sports as I will be on LIVE discussing doors. pic.twitter.com/WKwtVl2Zdw
— U.S. Olympian Johnny Quinn (@JohnnyQuinnUSA) February 8, 2014
(By the way, remember hockey player Joel Ward getting stuck in a bathroom stall in a Dallas hotel room last fall -- and calling out for help via Twitter?)
Flashing the Eagle Claw
Quinn's bathroom drama comes after he already generated lots of attention for flashing the University of North Texas’ Eagle Claw in Sochi. Quinn attended UNT.
The Eagle Claw was out tonight! If you watch the Ceremony this evening, I'm Row 2, Stage Right during the walk! #CAWW pic.twitter.com/iPHdjuGKWL
— U.S. Olympian Johnny Quinn (@JohnnyQuinnUSA) February 7, 2014
So what is the Eagle Claw?
It’s one of UNT’s many traditions.
The eagle hand sign is our universal sign of pride and unity. To display your pride: 1. Hold up your fist. 2. Make a "V" for Victory using your pointer and middle fingers, 3. Extend your thumb and curl your fingers slightly towards your palm.
Meet Johnny Quinn
Quinn's bio
The sport: bobsled
The town: McKinney
The details: Quinn is a former professional football wide receiver, playing for the Buffalo Bills, Green Bay Packers and the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the CFL. He was a two-sport athlete – football and track -- at the University of North Texas. He became the school’s all-time leading receiver. In 2011, he was inducted into the University of North Texas Hall of Fame. “Despite the injuries and releases, the opportunities and experiences Quinn has had during his football career changed his life for the better and paved the way for new roads to be explored in the sport of bobsled,” his website states. He sent film of him to Olympic bobsled athlete Chuck Berkeley, who passed it along. He was accepted.
