Allyn Condon ready to enjoy Olympic Winter Games experience (From Warrington Guardian)

Allyn Condon ready to enjoy Olympic Winter Games experience

11:57am Friday 29th January 2010

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ALLYN Condon says it will be a ‘fantastic privilege’ to represent Team GB in this month’s Olympic Winter Games.

He will be Britain’s breakman in the four-man bobsleigh, hitting the ice in Vancouver in the final week of the Games.

The 35-year-old former Sale Harriers sprinter, who hails from Runcorn but was living in Warrington until he moved out to Cyprus for pre-season training, previously represented his country as a relay sprinter at the Sydney Olympics in 2000 and the Commonwealth Games in Manchester in 2002.

“Having been previously selected to compete for Team GB in the Sydney 2000 Olympic Games, it is a fantastic privilege for me to now be selected for an Olympic Winter Games,” he said.

“I came into bobsleigh four years ago and this is what you work towards. There’s nothing bigger than the Olympics – it’s the highest achievement in sport.

“I’ll hope to use my experience in Sydney to reflect on the way you build-up and deal with the pressure.

“I know some of the mistakes to avoid and some of the ways you can make the most of your preparation time.

“But above all, I just want to get out there with the rest of the team and enjoy the Olympic experience.”

He will be joined in the sled by long-term training partner Dan Money, as well as driver John Jackson and Henry Nwume.

The selections have not been without their controversy as Lee Johnston was the pilot when GB1 finished in the world’s top 15 to pre-qualify for the Olympics 12 months ago.

He has missed out and the British Olympic Association announcement of the final team was delayed after appeals were lodged from other hopefuls.

But Andy Hunt, the Team GB chef de mission, believes it is a strong team who can deliver a strong performance.

“Bobsleigh is one of the great events at the Olympic Winter Games and it’s always had a place in the hearts of many British sports fans,” he said.

“We’ve got a very talented driver in John Jackson and he’s got a team around him who combine the pace, power and skill that you need in this sport.

“I’m sure they’ll deliver the sort of strong and committed performance that fans will enjoy.

“Not only that, but they’ve also got the great versatility of Allyn Condon, who’s moved from a top-level career in athletics to now reaching the pinnacle of bobsleigh. “People who’ve competed in both the Olympic Games and the Olympic Winter Games are a rare breed – and we’re lucky to have one.”

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