Essex Sport’s Daniel Read in training for Team GB

Sports Assistant, Daniel Read, is part of Team GB’s Skeleton team after successfully applying to the Discover Your Gold Talent ID programme, having been inspired by the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang in 2018.

He is about to start winter training which will last from October to March with the team travelling to Norway, Germany and Austria to gain experience on different tracks and develop their race preparation.

Despite no previous experience in competitive winter sports, Daniel wanted to see if he had the potential for an Olympic sport as he had, “always been a sporty person”, regularly playing football and training in the gym.

Daniel was one of 3,000 people invited to trials held throughout the UK earlier this year. The trial sessions involved a variety of physical tests including sprints, jumps and a power output test. Pleased with how he performed, Daniel waited for the results.

Shortly afterwards, Daniel was called to attend a Skeleton trial in Bath along with 40 others.

“I was shocked to have been chosen but just went and did my best!”

Daniel was then attending trials almost every month from June 2018 to January 2019 and, by February, only 11 candidates remained.

The final phase of selection involved an ice camp at Lillehammer in Norway to try the Skeleton on ice for the first time.

Dan said: “I remember being really nervous but excited. I can't compare anything I've done before to what it feels like going down the track. I really enjoyed my 2 weeks and was lucky enough to be one of 7 athletes chosen for the team in April.”

Training then began for the summer months, with a focus on developing strength and power for sprint starts with the winter training building on this experience.

“Coaches, video analysis and teammates all work together to help individual progression and so everyone can be their best. We hope to be competing at the European Cup within 3 years.”

Dan is hoping to move to Bath in the near future to begin training full time.

“A big thanks to Essex Sport for sharing my story and to all of my friends I work with at the Sports Centre. Everyone has been really supportive and excited for me, which I am really thankful for. I regularly post on Instagram if you would like to follow my Skeleton journey @_danread.”