British Bobsleigh Association
Bromley ready to carry on sliding
18 February 2006
British skeleton slider Kristan Bromley intends to stay in the sport despite narrowly failing in his mission of a Winter Olympics medal in Turin.
By Anna Thompson
BBC Sport at the Winter Olympics
Taken from bbc.co.uk/sport
British skeleton slider Kristan Bromley intends to stay in the sport despite narrowly failing in his mission of a Winter Olympics medal in Turin.
"I'm going to take time off and I'm not going to think about skeleton for a couple of months," he told BBC Sport.
"I have made no decision on my future although at this moment in time I feel fine to carry on.
"But whatever happens I will still be involved in sled design and other ice sport technologies."
The 33-year-old engineering graduate earned the nickname "Dr Ice" after dedicating nearly a decade into researching and then competing in skeleton.
Britain sent three skeleton sliders to the 2006 Games and they all finished in the top 10, with a silver for Shelley Rudman, a fifth place for Bromley and eighth for Adam Pengilly.
The sleds Alex Coomber used to win a bronze medal in 2002 and Rudman her silver in Turin were both designed by him.
"I'm really pleased we put on a good show although I am disappointed I did not come away with a medal," Bromley said. "But I have no regrets with the tactics I chose."
Skeleton is in rude health in Britain despite the obvious handicap of not having a full bobsleigh track in the country.
Bath University built a push-start track four years ago and the facility has also helped the British bobsleigh team, but it does not alter the fact they spend far less time on full tracks than the sport's leaders.
Bromley's success at winning the 2004 World title proved to be a double-edged sword because now he finds it difficult to get track practice.
"Other nations don't let me on the tracks now," he explained. "Great Britain needs to get an agreement so we get home nation status and get more track time.
"At the moment we have home nation status in Norway, but hardly any World Cup events are held there, and Igls in Austria, but we need more."
Bromley said the team's performance had boosted the sport and he would love nothing more than seeing more youngsters getting involved.
"We need the funding from the grassroots level upwards so people can come and have a go and experience the exhilarating sport for themselves," he added.
BBC Sport at the Winter Olympics
Taken from bbc.co.uk/sport
British skeleton slider Kristan Bromley intends to stay in the sport despite narrowly failing in his mission of a Winter Olympics medal in Turin.
"I'm going to take time off and I'm not going to think about skeleton for a couple of months," he told BBC Sport.
"I have made no decision on my future although at this moment in time I feel fine to carry on.
"But whatever happens I will still be involved in sled design and other ice sport technologies."
The 33-year-old engineering graduate earned the nickname "Dr Ice" after dedicating nearly a decade into researching and then competing in skeleton.
Britain sent three skeleton sliders to the 2006 Games and they all finished in the top 10, with a silver for Shelley Rudman, a fifth place for Bromley and eighth for Adam Pengilly.
The sleds Alex Coomber used to win a bronze medal in 2002 and Rudman her silver in Turin were both designed by him.
"I'm really pleased we put on a good show although I am disappointed I did not come away with a medal," Bromley said. "But I have no regrets with the tactics I chose."
Skeleton is in rude health in Britain despite the obvious handicap of not having a full bobsleigh track in the country.
Bath University built a push-start track four years ago and the facility has also helped the British bobsleigh team, but it does not alter the fact they spend far less time on full tracks than the sport's leaders.
Bromley's success at winning the 2004 World title proved to be a double-edged sword because now he finds it difficult to get track practice.
"Other nations don't let me on the tracks now," he explained. "Great Britain needs to get an agreement so we get home nation status and get more track time.
"At the moment we have home nation status in Norway, but hardly any World Cup events are held there, and Igls in Austria, but we need more."
Bromley said the team's performance had boosted the sport and he would love nothing more than seeing more youngsters getting involved.
"We need the funding from the grassroots level upwards so people can come and have a go and experience the exhilarating sport for themselves," he added.