The Comeback: Sprinter Leon Greenwood's Journey to Bobsleigh Glory

After a devastating ankle injury ended Leon Greenwood's sprinting career, the former track star wondered if he would ever compete at an elite level again. But with grit and determination, Leon rebuilt his athletic prowess and set his sights on bobsleigh. Now he's pushing for podium finishes at the upcoming World Championships.  Leon chatted with SportsBoom’s Wade McElwain about his career transition, training and much more in an exclusive interview ahead of the 2024 World Bobsleigh Championships in Winterberg, Germany. 
 

"I had the operation, went through two years of rehabilitation, which took some time. Motivation was dipping quite a lot, but when you're in these situations, you have to just keep disciplined and just show up," Leon said, recalling the gruelling road to recovery after ankle surgery. Despite doubting if he would ever fully heal, Leon persisted through pain and monotony. "It’s all about the mentality towards anything that you do in your life," he explained.

Intrigued by the combination of sprinting power and team coordination, Leon saw bobsleigh as the perfect outlet to reignite his competitive drive. "I like the mixture between the independent individual training in the summer, and then you've got the team aspect coming into the winter," he said. Though initially nerve-wracking, careening down icy tracks at speeds topping 90 mph soon had Leon hooked on the adrenaline rush. Now he's honed his skills as a number two man, ready to battle for medals.

With the World Championships in Germany kicking off in early March 2024, Leon and his team are hitting their stride after months of intense preparation. “A top three is what we’re hoping for really. If we can execute it and the team are healthy and sensible with training, we’ll be fine," Leon stated, brimming with quiet confidence. Though the Germans dominate bobsleigh with superior funding and facilities, Leon believes his squad has the athletic prowess to break through if they can optimize their new sled and deliver flawless runs.