Bobsleigh: Olympic dream drives Dave on

DERBY could be about to get its second Olympic athlete in the bobsleigh – if student Dave Smith gets his way.

Six years after Derby Athletic Club captain Phil Harries competed in the Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Smith is hoping to emulate his mentor's success by making the Great Britain squad for the Vancouver Games next year.

Only a matter of weeks after trying out for the GB squad, 27-year-old Smith, formerly of Hertfordshire but now residing in Derby, has been invited to join GB2 – the second of three British teams.

"I met Phil when I joined Derby Athletics Club as a triple jumper around eight years ago, so knew about him going to Salt Lake City with the GB Bobsleigh team," said Smith.

"Phil suggested I try out for the GB team, so I did, only a few weeks ago, and got into GB2.

"I had to go to their base at Bath University for some dry training and then we went to Italy for some ice training."

Although anyone can try out for the bobsleigh crew, athletes must meet strict criteria.

Men must be able to sprint 30m in under 3.90 seconds – 4.30secs for women – as well as being able to jump over 2.70m (men) and 2.30m (women).

You also have to do a bobsleigh push-start in under 3.80 seconds (men) or 4.20 seconds (women).

"I have given up the triple jump, because it isn't great on the knee joints," added Smith, "and I've started to do more sprinting and also the long jump for Derby, which isn't quite as demanding on the knees.

"Phil has also encouraged me to build my upper body, which I'm doing by powerlifting at the suite at Derby University."

Smith's meteoric rise in the sport has been rewarded after he was recently ranked six in the country.

And he is looking to improve on that position.

"I'm currently ranked sixth in the country but would like to improve my ranking before the end of the year to about fourth," he said.

"Both GB1 and GB2 will travel to the Winter Olympics, so I'm hopeful of going.

"However, I probably have more of a chance of doing well in the Winter Games in Russia in 2014."

Smith is also looking for sponsorship for his travel and expenses costs. Anyone wishing to sponsor him should email: kganly@derbytelegraph.co.uk