BOBSLEIGH: Over 30’s dominate the Australian Bobsleigh team for the 2014 Olympic Winter Games.

Australia qualified for the male and female 2-man events in Sochi as well as the male 4-man event. Of the four men and two women selected, all bar one are over 30 years of age.

Competing at her third Olympic Games in Sochi, Astrid Radjenovic is the most experienced of the squad. She will partner two-time Summer Olympian Jana Pittman, who is a former hurdling World Champion and the first Australian female to compete at a Summer and Winter Olympic Games. Read more about Pittman’s history-making feat here>>>
Radjenovic, 31, attributes her longevity in the sport down to her stubbornness.

“I think that the one minute of peace I get each day driving down the bob track, when nothing else is running through my head, is the most satisfying part,” she said.

“I love driving a bobsled and feel so happy to have developed such a unique skill. I have probably persisted this long despite all the hiccups and struggle, because I'm stubborn.”

Radjenovic, who is the pillar of Australian women’s Bobsleigh, has been a part of every Olympic campaign in which Australian women have competed.

“I'm really happy that all the hard work since Vancouver to keep the team going and keep up with all the big nations in the sport has fallen into place,” she said.

“It's been a long haul to get here, but I am excited for a third Olympic Games and to see what we can achieve.

She hopes to improve on her previous Olympic results of 19th with Cecilia McIntosh at the 2010 Vancouver Games and 14th with Kylie Reed at the 2006 Torino Games.

“The field this year is tough, so we have to be realistic and know we are up against all the big nations. I think a top 12 finish would be a huge achievement.”

Radjenovic has already been on the Sochi track and likes the long and somewhat technical track.

“It has a couple of corners that I find fun. I love long high fast technical corners where I can take a risk and let the sled fly. There is one or two in Sochi!”

In the pilot seat for the men’s 2-Man and 4-Man event is 33-year-old Heath Spence, who was unlucky to miss out on qualifying for the Vancouver 2010 Olympics as a brakeman.

In a bid to make the Sochi Games, Spence switched his focus to being a pilot and moved to Calgary, Canada, where he worked as a tourist Bobsleigh pilot honing his skills on the track - both in summer and winter.

“I am over the moon,” the Victorian said. “Four years ago I was absolutely shattered and hospitalised after several crashes trying to qualify for Vancouver as a brakeman. Back then I set myself a goal to be the best I could be. 

“There is still a lot of work to do. Qualifying is just the first step. The Olympics is an event, and I want to bring back Australia's best ever result from Sochi.”

In the 2-Man event, Spence will partner with 2010 Olympian 32-year-old Duncan Harvey, who finished 22nd in the same event at Vancouver.  They will contest the 2-Man event on the evening of Sunday 16 February, which is early Monday morning Australian time.

In the 4-Man, Spence will partner with Harvey, 30-year-old Gareth Nichols and former West Australian sprinter Lucas Mata, who at 25 years of age is the youngest of the Bobsleigh athletes.

“I think we can get into the top 15 in both disciplines,” Spence said. “We have worked hard enough and for guys that are here on their own dime and time they conduct themselves as professional as any of the top teams.”

Australians are the underdogs in the sport of Bobsleigh, but Spence believes his men compensate for this with passion and dedication.

“What we lack in ability of track knowledge, coaching, years of experience, not having out own facilities in Australia and equipment we make up for in passion and dedication,” he said.

“Our biggest strength will be our willingness to put it all on the line and walk away knowing we have given everything we had.”

The Bobsleigh events of the 2014 Olympic Games take place at the Sanki Sliding Centre from Sunday 16th – Wednesday 19 February and Saturday 22 – Sunday 23 February.