Nick Timmings to make Olympic debut in Beijing
WAIS scholarship holder Nick Timmings has been selected to the Australian Olympic Team for the Beijing Winter Olympic Games.
The 31-year-old will represent his country at the highest level after more than a decade in the Australian Skeleton program.
Timmings, along with brother Dean made the decision to head to Europe and North America in late 2021, for important racing and chasing points to quality for the Beijing Games. With border and trave uncertainty, it was a risky move, though it ultimately proved to the right one.
Timmings is coming off his best season to date having claimed his first wins at the North Americas Cup, on route to the series titles, his best finish at a World Cup in 19th and a career high world ranking of 32.
Competition will be held at the Yanqing Sliding Centre just outside Beijing, which includes a world-first 360 degree turn and see athletes reach top speeds of up to 140 km/h.
Olympic debutant Timmings said today’s selection is even sweeter given the challenges each athlete has faced over this Olympic cycle.
“It’s a dream come true to go to my first Olympics, I’m over the moon,” Timmings said. “I can’t wait to get out there and see what we can do in Beijing.”
“Every Olympic athlete would have had a four-year plan that was completely thrown out the window after the year two. For me, last year was a big struggle to get away and compete. But I bit the bullet, and took a risk to get away to better myself and improve so I could get in that position this year where I could really attack that qualifying spot.
“The speed and the adrenaline of skeleton is like nothing else. I got to 141 km/h in on the Whistler track this year, when you’re having a good run, you can feel time slowing down, like the corners are coming at you slower. You literally feel like you’re flying.”
“This sport does get lonely sometimes when you’re traveling the world by itself, so when Dean and I have been together it’s been a big help. Only qualifying one spot on the male side was a shame, but no matter who it was to qualify, we knew we were each going to be happy for the other person.”
Chef de Mission for the Australian Olympic Team for Beijing, Geoff Lipshut, welcomed the athletes to the Team.
“This is the result of decades of work, so much time put in on the tracks around the world, in the gym, away from Australia to compete at these Olympics.
“Today’s selection highlights that it doesn’t matter where you’re from in Australia, if you have the drive, determination and skill that Jackie, Alex and Nick display, whether you’re from north Queensland or West Australia, you can chase your Winter Olympic dream.
“Thank you to Bobsleigh Skeleton Australia and Luge Australia for developing these athletes from their first time on ice to the Australian Olympic Team, and to the Queensland Academy of Sport and West Australian Institute of Sport for your ongoing support of the athletes’ pursuits.”
