'Bobsleigh wasn't part of the plan': Yorkshire Olympian Leon Greenwood hopes to inspire next generation
When the 2026 Winter Olympics kicks-off in Milan-Cortina next month, Leon Greenwood from West Yorkshire will have realised a life-long dream.
The 28-year-old is set to be part of the Team GB bobsleigh crew - just a few years after his Summer Olympic hopes as a top class sprinter were agonisingly dashed.
For Leon, who was born in Dewsbury and brought up in Batley by single-mother Debbie, sprinting was life. At Spen Valley High School, he broke records held by much older pupils when he was only in Year 7 and he trained at Spenborough Harriers where he built up to a speed in the 100m and 200m faster than anyone his own age in West Yorkshire. Before too long, no-one in the whole county could keep pace.
Leon’s love for the track continued after a move to Cardiff Metropolitan University, and the Summer Olympics beckoned. But then came a devastating ankle injury, and the words no aspiring athlete wants to hear from a medical professional: “You will never be able to sprint again.”
Now the Olympic dream is back on, this time with a totally different sport and season. It’s been quite the journey.
After three years of dedicated rehabilitation, and having been told he could make it as a bobsledder due to his superstar sprinting pedigree, Leon went to a talent identification day at the University of Bath.
Months of hard work followed before he broke into the elite GB1 team. But a day later, Leon broke his toe. His debut had to wait for another 12 months.
Fast-forward to February 2026 and Leon is an established cog in the Team GB machine having been part of last year’s gold medal-winning line-up in the IBSF World Cup event in St Moritz.
The self-professed sports-fanatic is now about to fly out to Milan-Cortina, Italy, to realise his dream of becoming an Olympian.
Considered one of the Winter Olympics’ most dangerous events, the bobsleds can reach frightening speeds of up to 90mph - and potential for 5 Gs of force.
Hoping his journey can inspire the younger generation, Leon says: “The whole reason I have done this is to achieve my Olympic dream. Bobsleigh wasn’t the plan. Especially as a little kid from Batley. I had no idea what bobsleigh was.
“It has been a hell of a journey. But I think everything happens for a reason. I got that injury and it changed my whole perspective on life.
"I’m actually glad it happened to me because it made me knuckle down even harder. In my situation, nothing was given to me. I have had to work my socks off to get into this position.
“I hope that just one kid hears my story. I love trying to inspire the next generation just because there’s not many opportunities around where I was from in Batley.”
Leon will be cheered on by family members in Milan-Cortina, with many more relatives and friends watching on TV back home in Yorkshire.