AUSTIN (KXAN) — The 2026 Winter Olympics will be in Italy next February. Darryl Payne, Jr. hopes to make the roster for the USA Skeleton team.
“It’s a winter sport similar to boblsed where we both go down an icy mountain, but instead of jumping into a sled, I jump on top of a sled and go belly down face first,” Payne said. “Going about 80-to-85 mph.”
Payne currently lives in Temple, Texas. He worked in Austin, but quit his job last year to pursue his Olympic dream full-time. He’s an official USA Skeleton athlete, and is currently ranked fourth based off of the last competition rankings. He said the team takes two, maybe three, athletes to the Olympics.
Payne hosting fundraiser at Maie Day on South Congress this weekend
This Sunday, Payne will cook up crawfish at Maie Day, where his close friend Nico works as a chef.
A $40 ticket includes all-you-can-eat crawfish and a beverage. Ten percent of the day’s sales will go to Payne’s competition fund.
“No athlete on Team U.S.A. is funded by Team U.S.A.,” Payne said. “Every athlete is privately funded.”
The crawfish boil runs from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.