From Sprint to Sled: Ashleigh Nelson's Unlikely Winter Olympics Journey
Ashleigh Nelson has made a remarkable transition from the athletics track to the ice track, swapping sprint spikes for a bobsleigh in a career twist she never saw coming. The decorated British sprinter is now in contention for a medal at the Winter Olympics, though she openly admits she doesn't particularly enjoy the high-speed, high-risk sport.
A Surprising Instagram Invitation
Just 18 months ago, Nelson expected to be competing at the UK Indoor Championships in Birmingham, not preparing to ride a £75,000 bobsleigh down the world's newest ice track. "I was tricked into it," Nelson reveals with a laugh. "You laugh, but it's true." The unexpected opportunity came via an Instagram message from GB bobsleigh pilot Adele Nicole shortly after the Paris Olympics.
"I didn't know anything about it before I went down," Nelson admits. "I'd never seen a crash. I didn't even know people did crash. The closest I'd ever come to a bobsleigh before was watching Cool Runnings." Her first experience with the sport would come during a training camp in Lillehammer, Norway.
From Athletics Champion to Bobsleigh Rookie
Nelson's athletic credentials are impressive. As one of Great Britain's most decorated female sprinters, her achievements include:
- Gold medals in the 4x100m relay at the 2014 European Championships and 2022 Commonwealth Games
- Silver and bronze medals at the World Athletics Championships in 2013 and 2019
- Individual medals at European, World Junior, and World Youth Championships
- Team captain for the 2022 European Championships in Munich
Her transition to bobsleigh came at a vulnerable moment. After suffering an Achilles injury that required surgery and cost her a year of competition, Nelson missed the Paris Olympics and was "ready to retire" at age 32 when Nicole's message arrived.
"It caught me at a vulnerable time," Nelson explains. "I didn't make the Olympic Games and it was around that time Adele messaged me. I was feeling a bit sad and vulnerable, so when she said: 'Do you fancy bobsleigh?' I was like 'maybe.' And then 18 months later I'm at the Winter Olympics, which is a bit bizarre."
The Terrifying Reality of Bobsleigh
Nelson's first bobsleigh experience was nothing short of shocking. "There's no cushion. There's no seatbelt. There's no airbags," she describes. "The first time I went down I was told: 'Whatever happens, just hold on tight, don't let go.' When I got to the bottom my body was in shock."
The experience left her questioning her decision. "I called my mum afterwards and said: 'Mum, I don't think this is for me,'" Nelson recalls. Her mother encouraged her to stick it out, and a few days later she had her first run with Nicole as her pilot, which proved more manageable.
Nelson joins a long tradition of track athletes transitioning to bobsleigh, including Joel Fearon, James Dasaolu, Mark-Lewis Francis, and Montell Douglas. The sports share a need for explosive sprinting ability to launch the sled effectively.
Racing with Eyes Closed
Despite her success, Nelson cheerfully admits she races with her eyes tightly shut. "Why am I going to open them?" she laughs. Her primary contribution comes in the first 50 meters, where her sprinting background proves invaluable.
"I'm fast, I'm strong, I'm not just here because I've got nice hair," she asserts. "I squat 260kg." But once the initial push is complete, "I'm in the back with my head tucked between my legs holding onto the sled! I can't see anything that's happening."
To navigate the course, Nelson memorizes the track and counts corners while maintaining her death grip on the sled. "When you've got your eyes closed and you're going 80mph you'll forgive me if I get a bit disorientated," she says.
As Nelson prepares for competition, her journey stands as a testament to athletic adaptability and the unexpected paths that can lead to Olympic competition. From track champion to bobsleigh medal hopeful, her story continues to unfold on the ice, even if she's watching it all through closed eyelids.
