After Being Scammed, Bobsledder’s Family Feels Olympic Spirit

By Brandon Penny — 1/28/2010
The “Olympic spirit” does not typically mean being scammed out of $7K. For one bobsledder’s family, it now does.
USA-1 push athlete Steve Mesler had planned on having his family and friends cheering for him in Whistler. For a year, the group’s plans were set in stone. There was no reason to question it. That is until this past week.
Mesler’s mother, Lois Mesler, found a house in Whistler large enough to hold the 11-member group after posting her request on a website. The site was legit, but the man who responded was not.
She wired $7,332 U.S. dollars to a “John Hartlen.” But when she did not hear back from him within four days, Mrs. Mesler called the police. They told her she had been scammed. The address she planned to stay at did not exist.
Earlier this week the story became public when Steve Mesler told his family’s tale on Vancouver radio. Within hours, the family received an outpouring of support from strangers eager to house the group for free in February. The group of 11 will take advantage of two of those offers.
Canadian police told Lois Mesler the suspect is wanted in three provinces for allegedly conning others out of money as well. Team USA sponsor Proctor and Gamble heard about the Meslers’ story and immediately reached out to Lois Mesler. In the nature of Olympic spirit, the company has offered to cover the group’s losses.
Last season, Steve Mesler helped push the four-man USA-1 sled to America’s first World Championshp win in 50 years. This past weekend, “Team Night Train” was officially named the overall 2010 World Cup Champions. They will be the clear favorites for Olympic gold when the four-man bobsled competition takes place February 26th and 27th.