Ashley Nelson – Summer and winning Olympian
Last weekend (the Winter Olympics took place from February 6 to February 22, the Paralympic Winter Games from March 6 to March 25), Ashley Nelson (inhibitor) and: Adele Nicole (pilot) completed 15th In the two women’s bobsleigh competition in Italy. The opening sentence said Ashley Nelson (sprinter) and Adele Nicole (firearm). The pair had a disappointing opening day finish at 8:00 p.mth but a great second day where they were 11th the fastest moved them up to 15th.
It all started when Nicole invited Nelson down to a training center in Bath to try out. Then the coaches told Nelson. He was good on the ice and they made me part of the team. Nine months after that test in Bath, I was on my way to the World Championships in Lake Placid, USA.
He describes his role: Brake and I pull on the brake, which is essentially like a dead lift of about 170kg. Since we’re going about 80 mph, you can imagine it’s a pretty epic death climb at the end.”
I wondered if it was as terrible as it seemed; “It was the first two times. But Adele is a brilliant pilot and I trust her with my life. I don’t think I realized how dangerous it was until later in the season when I saw accidents happening and people being thrown off the sled. The fear of what might happen is scarier than the actual feeling of running, if that makes sense.”
As a sprinter, Nelson was selected for the 2012, 2016 and 2021 Summer Olympics. In 2012, he was part of the relay team but did not run. In 2016, he was injured and had to leave. In 2021, he contracted Covid and spent the Games in isolation at the Olympic Village in Tokyo.
During her track career, she was GB champion (2012), won bronze and silver medals at the World Championships, European individual bronze and two relay golds, as well as Commonwealth relay bronze medals.
Ashley Nelson, Bianca Williams. Daryl Neita replaced Ashley Nelson
in the final. Photo: England Athletics
He said about the 2026 Winter Olympics. “I’m really, really happy with how it went today. After yesterday, Adele did a fantastic job of turning things around. I am very happy and joyful in my fourth Olympic Games and first Winter Olympics. I did it. It was very difficult to keep our heads in the game, but it just shows what professionals we both are.”
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