Olympics still the goal for four-man bob (From Runcorn and Widnes World)

Olympics still the goal for four-man bob

4:13pm Thursday 15th January 2009

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FULFILLING a dual Olympic dream remains the focus of Runcorn bobsleigh star Allyn Condon despite setbacks over the past week.

Condon and the Team GB four-man bob team are seeking a top-12 finish in the current World Cup to book their place in the Winter Olympics in 2010.

But the 34-year-old missed out on the action in the fifth round in Germany at the weekend with a back injury and the team slipped to 11th in the rankings.

Condon, who made his name as an international sprint athlete and competed in the 2002 summer Olympics in Sydney, is now awaiting a second opinion on scan results that have prompted one surgeon to recommend he should rest for the remainder of the season.

He will definitely sit out the sixth-round action on the St Moritz track in Switzerland on Sunday and possibly the next event in Vancouver, Canada, on February 7 but has set his sights on a return for the final round and following World Championship event in America later next month.

If Team GB fail to finish in the top 12 in the World Cup, a top-12 finish in the World Championship would also book their ticket to the Winter Olympics in 13 months’ time.

Condon said: “I was not part of the team this week as I had to fly back to the UK last week to go to the Olympic medical centre with a back injury.

“I have since had scans and seen a spinal surgeon who has recommended I do not compete again this season, although I’m waiting on a second opinion, as I have ruptured a vein in my lumbar spine which is causing me lower back problems around an already injured area.

“The team can hopefully get back into the top 10 world rankings at the weekend as we dropped one place on Sunday.

“With Olympic qualifying being top 12, it’s pretty tight.”

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