If Jimmy Shea makes the team, as he is likely to do, he will be the first to become a third generation Olympian in the winter games, and continue the family tradition.

Jim Shea Jr. is one of the top skeleton sliders in the world, and a medal contender for the Olympics.

He won gold at the Inaugural 2000 Winter Goodwill Games and was the first America to win the Skeleton World Championships in 1999. The first to congratulate him: His father, Jim Sr.

Jim Shea Sr.: THAT'S SPECIAL, THE FIRST AMERICAN, THE ONLY AMERICAN TO WIN THE SKELETON CHAMPIONSHIP AND THAT'S REALLY SPECIAL. AND I WAS THERE, I WAS THERE.

And he hopes to be there again when Jimmy competes in the Olympics.

Jim Shea Sr. was an Olympic athlete in 1964 in Nordic Combined and coached the Biathlon team in '72.

Jim Shea Sr.: IT LIGHTS A TORCH IN YOU. I CONSIDER MYSELF QUITE FORTUNATE TO HAVE BEEN ON THE OLYMPIC TEAM AND THE MEMORIES, I HAD AS AN ATHLETE PRIMARILY, ARE VERY SPECIAL.

Memories and experiences he shares with his own father, Jack Shea-- a double gold medal speedskater in 1932.

Jack Shea: AT THE CRACK OF THE GUN I TOOK THE LEAD AND WAS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO KEEP THAT LEAD UNTIL I CROSSED THE TAPE FOR THE GLORY OF THE UNITED STATES.

Jack Shea: OF COURSE THE NICE THING ABOUT IT WAS, I GOT THAT GOLD MEDAL IN FRONT OF FRANKLIN D. ROSEVELT WHO WAS GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND WHO WAS DESTINED TO BE THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES.

The Sheas are a close family. Jim still works the family business in Lake Placid, in a building built by Jimmy's great granddad in 1896.

Athletics is a way of life for the Sheas. Jimmy's mother was an alpine ski racer -- alternate to the 1962 national team.

The three Shea men compete in three different winter sports, but they share a special dream-- an Olympic dream that is more about the journey than the gold.

Jim Shea Sr.: IT'S NOT THE TRIUMPH, IT'S THE STRUGGLE. TO ME THAT IS THE REAL TRUE OLYMPIC SPIRIT.

Jack Shea: THE OLYMPIC GAMES, IT'S NOT ALL MEDALS. IT'S HOW YOU ACT AS A CONTESTANT FOR THE OLYMPIC GAMES. IT'S HOW YOU ACT PERHAPS AS A DISAPPOINTED MEMBER OF THE OLYMPIC TEAM. MEMBERS OF THE OLYMPIC TEAM ARE PEACEMAKERS.

Jimmy Shea Jr.: I REMEMBER TELLING MY FATHER AND GRANDFATHER, 'I'LL BRING YOU HOME A MEDAL.' AND I REMEMBER, SPECIFICALLY, MY GRANDFATHER SAYING, 'IT'LL BE THE FRIENDSHIPS THAT WILL BE YOUR BIGGEST REWARD.' AND I SAID, 'WELL, I ACTUALLY WANT THE MEDAL. IT'LL BE NICE. I'LL BRING YOU HOME A MEDAL, TOO.' IT WASN'T TIL THE SECOND SEASON REPRESENTING MY COUNTRY THAT I REALIZED HOW IMPORTANT THOSE FRIENDSHIPS ARE.

By February, Jack Shea will be 91-- the oldest living American Gold medalist. His one last wish is to see Jimmy continue the Olympic family tradition.

Jack Shea: YOU CAN IMAGINE HOW GRANDPA SHEA IS GOING TO BE PROUD.

Jim Shea Sr.: IT WOULD BE OBVIOUSLY UNIQUE IN OLYMPIC HISTORY, AND IT WOULD BE VERY FULFILLING FOR ME AND I KNOW IT WOULD BE FOR DAD. IT WOULD BE VERY VERY EXCITING.

Jimmy Shea Jr.: EVERYBODY SAYS, 'OH BOY, YOUR FATHER AND GRANDFATHER ARE GOING TO BE SO PROUD OF YOU.' I THINK IT'S GOING TO BE THE OTHER WAY AROUND. I'M THE ONE THAT'S GOING TO BE SO PROUD OF THEM.

Another interesting fact about grandpa Shea: He was invited to compete again in the 1936 Olympics in Austria, but he refused to go in protest of the way that Hitler was treating the Jews.

Quite a family.