Bobsleigh-Aussie Kiara swaps desert sands for Olympic bobsleigh dream

By Philip O’Connor

ZHANGJIAKOU, China (Reuters) – Australian bobsleigh brakewoman Kiara Reddingius might have solely seen snow for the primary time in November 2021, however she arrived on the Beijing Olympics filled with confidence that she will be able to make an impression on the frozen course with team-mate Bree Walker.

The 30-year-old trainer from the city of Lenora earned the nickname “The Cool Runnings Child” since making the change from monitor and area to the icy bobsleigh.

“I hadn’t accomplished a lot within the winter in any respect – I’m from the desert in Western Australia, I moved to Melbourne a few years in the past, in order that was the coldest climate I had skilled,” she informed a media convention.

“I used to be speaking to Dad the opposite week, he nonetheless lives the place I grew up in a small city, there’s solely about 700 folks there, and he mentioned ‘What’s the temperature there?’, and I mentioned it’s about adverse 5 (levels). He mentioned it’s 42 levels (Celsius) right here,” she defined.

A promising heptathlete, Reddingius was recognized by the bobsleigh governing physique in Australia as somebody with the expertise and physique kind that would succeed within the sport regardless of her lack of familiarity with the snow, and she or he jumped on the alternative.

“I made a decision to present it a go after I used to be financially ready. After the (COVID) lockdowns I used to be capable of save some huge cash, I went to America and did some coaching camps there,” she mentioned.

“Then we did pre-season in Europe and realized all of the tracks there and it simply went from that. So I bought recognized, and just about stalked on social media!” she mentioned, laughing.

Now that she has made it to the Olympics, she is just not content material to only make up the numbers.

“I’m not likely notably centered on essentially what I’m doing, I simply need to do it to the very best of my skill and I need to do it in essentially the most elite mindset that I can,” she mentioned.

(Reporting by Philip O’Connor; Enhancing by Michael Perry)