Long Islander and Irish American John Daly, 24, expects to be the next big star for the U.S. at the Winter Olympics.

He is chasing the gold in the skeleton sled competition and is fancied to win. He has a $250,000 sled to help him win victory in a competition where average speeds are at 90 miles per hour down the 4,500 foot long track..

"If there was ever a time to be ready, the time is now. I've never slid this great in a season. I'm pushing as fast as I can push," Daly told The New York Post.

He's has four runs, two a day on Thursday and Friday, to prove he's the world's greatest slider.

He got into the sports almost by accident after a gym coach advised him to try the luge

"When the track is really smooth with no bumps, it feels like you are flying on the ice. I guess that would be the best way to describe it," he said.

Daly's mom, Bennarda, of Smithtown says it's tough watching her son..

"You wait to hear that he got to the bottom. You don't want to hear the code 81 -- that he got hurt on the track," she said.

His father, James says he can't wait

"I'm living my life through him," James said. "The Olympics, it's something I've been dreaming about for a long time."