Leon Greenwood discusses bobsleigh progress and Winter Olympic dreams

Leon Greenwood is raring to go.

A member of Great Britain’s four-man bobsleigh team, the Team Kennet sprint coach won bronze at a World Cup stage in Lillehammer, Norway last season as well as a top six finish at the World Championships in Winterberg, Germany.

Britain is an underdog in bobsleigh, with other nations boasting a deeper heritage in the sport and millions more in funding.

To make matters worse, Greenwood’s team also had injuries to contend with this time last year.

“The start of the season was pretty much a write off, as half the team was injured,” he reflected.

“We didn’t know what to expect, but in the first race back we got a top six, then a third.”

A top six finish at the World Championships came in spite of further roadblocks.

“In bobsleigh, if you’re not highly ranked in the season you get a rubbish starting position for the World Champs,” he explained.

“The later you go off for your run, the harder it is.

“But we managed to claim a top six, in my first ever World Champs… it was a great achievement, especially being from the UK!

“My family have been so supportive, my partner Nicole and our baby girl Aria, it wouldn’t be possible without them.”

Greenwood’s journey into one of Britain’s more niche sporting activities was all thanks to a recommendation from a friend.

“Every year the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association runs a talent identification program, where athletes almost get poached in a way!

“I was a sprinter beforehand and I knew someone who did it… they said why not come and try it out?

“They see if you’ve got the potential to be world class. I got invited to more days with the current Olympic team, now I’m on that team!

“That was about two years ago now. The aim is to medal at the next Olympics in 2026!”

The next Winter Olympics in Milan is the number one ambition for Greenwood and his team, but the road to Lombardy is not an easy one.

“For this season it’s a case of working out who the fastest guys are in our crew,” he said.

“From there we build up to the World Championships, and we need to get a medal, there’s no option.

“That would set us up for the Olympic season, it helps you qualify more directly.

“If we do well then we won’t have that worry of qualification.

“Training will be a lot of power, a lot of strength.

“You’re pushing an object, so you need to run under a load of 200 kilos.

“It’s all about timing. If you watch us on the back we’re almost synchronised with our footsteps, then we get in like ninjas!

“If you mess up at the top… mess up the velocity, then you won’t have a fast time at the bottom.”

The Bobsleigh World Cup, held over multiple weeks throughout the season, will take him to Germany, Latvia, St. Moritz, Innsbruck, and back to Lillehammer, but Greenwood is just excited to get started.

“I’m just looking forward to competing for the country,” he said.

“My first race is in December, that’ll be Altenberg in Germany.

“Germany were one, two, three in the World Championships last season, their equipment is worth millions, ours is worth thousands.

“That’s the first World Cup event. We want to show the world that we’re going for the gold medal.

“Last year we missed out on Altenberg, but this time we’re looking good in training… we’re ready to fly!

“I’m in good shape and I’m really excited.”