WAIS is home to hundreds of athletes from all walks of life. This month we catch up with bobsleigh athlete Gareth Nichols to gain an insight into his sporting journey and plans to put the sport on the map in Australia.
Sport: Bobsleigh
When did you first start participating in your sport?
I started training for a bobsleigh recruitment camp in August 2011 here in WA. I was working FIFO at the time so I was doing sprints up and down the mining camp access road at night time wearing a head torch and I borrowed a few hurdles from my coach Lee Derby to do plyometric drills. The first run down the track was in October 2011 with then Aussie pilot Jason Oliveri in Park City, Utah in a two-man sled. Two days later I was in a four-man sled with two other people who would become my team mates for the Sochi 2014 Olympic Games, pilot Heath Spence and brakeman Lucas Mata.
What is your favourite thing about your sport?
I really enjoy the training and the competition. That’s pretty strange I think, to enjoy training! I don’t think anybody actually enjoys getting rattled around in the back of a bobsled on a daily basis and even the smoothest ride can leave you wondering what the hell just happened during the last 50 seconds of your life.
What is your biggest sporting achievement to date?
It would have to be the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics. I’ve done some pretty amazing things but thinking about the opening ceremony still puts tingles down my spine.
What is your ultimate sporting goal?
For me it’s not about the numbers or gaining a certain world ranking, I want to put Australian Bobsledding on the map! Internationally people know Australia have a bobsled team, back home here in Australia there isn’t much knowledge of what we do. I want to help our team become extremely competitive internationally and make people back in Australia sit up and notice that we are the real deal.
Do you work or study?
I work. I’m a Mechanical Engineer and I manage a department for an engineering/manufacturing business, who service the mining industry here in Perth. “In a nut shell I fix big things” is what I tell most people.
What is your biggest non-sporting achievement to date?
That’s a hard one. I’ve walked the Kokoda Track with my two brothers and my Dad – that was pretty amazing. One of the most emotional and physically demanding things I’ve ever completed.
Do you have any other hobbies outside of your sport and work?
I love to get outdoors, fishing, beach and riding my motorbikes. Once my athlete career has ended you’ll most likely find me riding my bike around Barbagallo raceway somewhere.
What does your weekly schedule look like?
As you can see I don’t have much time for hobbies.
|
MON. |
TUES. |
WED. |
THURS. |
FRIDAY |
SAT. |
SUN. |
|
|
MORNING |
6am Start Work |
6am Start Work |
10am Weights |
6am Start Work |
6am Start Work |
8am Sled Pushing |
Rest Day |
|
AFTERNOON |
4pm Finish Work |
4pm Finish Work |
2pm Massage/ Physio |
4pm Finish Work |
4pm Finish Work |
10am Weights |
|
|
EVENING |
4:30pm Sprint Training |
4:30pm Weights |
4:30pm Sprint Training and Sled Pushing |
Rest |
4:30pm Sprint and Power Training |
What is an interesting fact about you that not many people know?
My Great Great Grandfather was the head design engineer for the Titanic and went down with the ship. He’s in the movie… Mr. Andrews.
