British Bobsleigh Association
Bobsleigh brothers chase world glory
30 January 2007
WHITBY brothers Lee and Karl Johnston are once again flying the flag for Great Britain, at the Bobsleigh World Championships in the Swiss ski resort of St Moritz.
Taken from http://www.whitbytoday.co.uk
Lee Johnston (34) is the driver in the two and four-man, while younger brother Karl will be pushing in the four-man race.
It is another momentous feat for the brothers following their involvement in the Turin Winter Olympics last February.
First up in the world championships was the two-man event which took place on Saturday and Sunday, in which GB finished 19th.
The team included new brakeman Henry Nwume, a doctor in the Army, who is new to bobsleigh and this is only his second race. The four-man bob follows this weekend.
In an email to the Whitby Gazette, Karl - a captain in the Royal Marines - said: "Lee has been training hard over the summer, but suffered recurring achilles injuries over the first half of the season.
"He is almost back to full fitness for the championships."
Since last year's Winter Olympics, Karl (27) has been back to work, training new recruits to the Royal Marines - and was not planning on competing this season.
But he was offered the opportunity to attend GB trials at Christmas and after a few weeks of intensive training, he made the GBR 2 team.
"Once the Marines allowed me the time off to compete at the World Championships, I jumped at the chance and have been training hard since Christmas," said Karl.
"Although I have not had the ideal preparation, I am looking forward to racing at the championships.
"I will be pushing GBR 2 driver Neil Scarisbrick and it will be my first major championships where I have not been pushing Lee, so there will be a little bit of competition between the two of us in the four-man race."
Channel Four will be showing a 30-minute highlight programme at 8am on Sunday 11 February and a one-hour special on the team and the championships at 8am the following Sunday.
Lee Johnston (34) is the driver in the two and four-man, while younger brother Karl will be pushing in the four-man race.
It is another momentous feat for the brothers following their involvement in the Turin Winter Olympics last February.
First up in the world championships was the two-man event which took place on Saturday and Sunday, in which GB finished 19th.
The team included new brakeman Henry Nwume, a doctor in the Army, who is new to bobsleigh and this is only his second race. The four-man bob follows this weekend.
In an email to the Whitby Gazette, Karl - a captain in the Royal Marines - said: "Lee has been training hard over the summer, but suffered recurring achilles injuries over the first half of the season.
"He is almost back to full fitness for the championships."
Since last year's Winter Olympics, Karl (27) has been back to work, training new recruits to the Royal Marines - and was not planning on competing this season.
But he was offered the opportunity to attend GB trials at Christmas and after a few weeks of intensive training, he made the GBR 2 team.
"Once the Marines allowed me the time off to compete at the World Championships, I jumped at the chance and have been training hard since Christmas," said Karl.
"Although I have not had the ideal preparation, I am looking forward to racing at the championships.
"I will be pushing GBR 2 driver Neil Scarisbrick and it will be my first major championships where I have not been pushing Lee, so there will be a little bit of competition between the two of us in the four-man race."
Channel Four will be showing a 30-minute highlight programme at 8am on Sunday 11 February and a one-hour special on the team and the championships at 8am the following Sunday.