He was determined that the United States should compete, and sought a challenge that maximized its chances of winning.
hiː wʌz dɪtˈɜːmɪnd ðætðə juːnˈaɪɾᵻd stˈeɪts ʃˌʊd kəmpˈiːt, ænd sˈɔːt ɐ tʃˈælɪndʒ ðæt mˈæksɪmˌaɪzd ɪts tʃˈænsᵻz ʌv wˈɪnɪŋ.