Taylor Austin's emerging Canada sled learning how to win

To even the most refined eye it would have been nearly impossible to sense the nerves of the four Canadian bobsledders ahead of their final World Cup run last Saturday in Whistler. 

But behind the steely resolve displayed by Taylor Austin, Cyrus Gray, Shaquille Murray-Lawrence, Davidson De Souza, their adrenaline was pumping as they sat in second place after their first run. Knowing a podium finish was in reach, the quartet from Canada found composure. 

Pilot Austin guided them down the track in their final run, enough to secure a bronze medal and marking just the sixth international medal for Canada on the challenging Whistler Sliding Centre track. 

In the first World Cup race to begin a new Olympic cycle, the Canadians needed this start. And this particular foursome needed this podium finish because bobsleigh can be ruthless. There are no guarantees when it comes to what four men are going to be in the sled. 

Murray-Lawrence knows this all too well.

"You have to produce. We are racing for our lives. This is the big leagues," he told CBC Sports. "It is a week-to-week basis now. If we had come out and wet the bed we might not be in Park City this week. That's the nature of the business."

WATCH | Taylor Austin's four-man sled earns bronze in Whistler:

But they are in Park City, where they will race another World Cup event this weekend on the Utah track. The plan is to also race together in Lake Placid, N.Y., at the final World Cup race before the holiday break. 

But they have to keep delivering under pressure. 

Murray-Lawrence has been part of the national team for a few years. Last season he was named an alternate for the Olympics, something he says hurt him as he felt he belonged on the team.

"I got the biggest chip on