IT IS an image that defines the calamities that Team GB have had in Beijing – as the two-man bob crashed at 83mph! On the third run of the men’s bobsleigh event, pilot Brad Hall and brakesman Nick Gleeson ended up tipping over their sled on unlucky corner No.13. The pair slide over the finish […]
IT IS an image that defines the calamities that Team GB have had in Beijing – as the two-man bob crashed at 83mph!
On the third run of the men’s bobsleigh event, pilot Brad Hall and brakesman Nick Gleeson ended up tipping over their sled on unlucky corner No.13.
The pair slide over the finish line with their heads on the ice and supporters frantically worrying about their health.
Luckily there were no physical problems and the duo completed the fourth run successfully to ensure there would be no psychological hangovers.
Even though the four-man bobsleigh on Saturday and Sunday is the one they are targeting, this was not exactly in the manual book.
Hall and Gleeson, who are both unfunded athletes, finished in 11th place, more than three seconds behind dominant force Francesco Friedrich, who capped a German 1-2-3 podium.
Hall, 31, said: “It was a mistake I haven’t done before so it took me a bit off guard and we went over.
“A crash has happened to every single bobsledder. You have a crash, you’ve got to go straight back up there and do it again.
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“Some crashes that don’t look bad at all, athletes end up having horrendous injuries. And some that look really bad, everyone walks away fine. For us it was quite a tame crash, a little roll.
“Of course, it hurts. It’s a bitter pill to follow but that’s the way it goes sometimes. It’s racing. It’s supposed to be exciting.
“We need to rectify the mistakes, my driving is usually a little bit better in the four-man.”
Backstage, British medics gave them a concussion once-over and then the green light to finish the event in one piece.
They were due to be back in four-man training at 9.40am on Wednesday morning at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre.
Gleeson, 25, who is an army paratrooper, said: “We’re absolutely fine. We’ve got a few battle scars but nothing majorly concerning.
“When a crash happens, it’s a survival instinct, you hold on and try not to get kicked out of the back.
“Thankfully it was quite an easy crash, quite short and it was over pretty quick.
“I’m incredibly proud of Brad getting us down the fourth time. All eyes now sit on the four-man, getting the other guys in and trying to do even better.
“There was no way I would have let him not do that fourth run.
“I think it was very important to get the confidence back and the mental and physical side of it so that when the four-man training and race day comes around, we have no doubts that in our mind we can still contend for a medal.”
