9:50am Friday 2nd October 2009
By Sarah Hilley
WINTER OLYMPIAN Shelley Rudman has been reunited with a coach who stirred her on to greatness.
Bob skeleton racer Shelley arranged to meet her former Swindon Athletics Club coach George Pinkney as part of a BBC campaign to promote grassroot sports heroes.
George, of Liden, believes 28-year-old Shelley can bag a gold medal at the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games next year, although bob skeleton was not part of his plans for her when she was 15.
“He spotted me endurance training and asked me to think about learning how to hurdle,” she said.
“George Pinkney is my unsung hero because he was the first person who really started to guide me into thinking seriously about sport, and that I could achieve something special.”
And within a year under George’s guidance, Shelley qualified for the national English schools championships for the 300m and 80m hurdles.
Twelve years on, 72-year-old George still had plenty of motivational words for Pewsey-born Shelley.
The grandfather-of-five said: “She was fearless in her attitude towards the events. She was extremely skilful and could complete her training programme and cope with pressure.
I am very pleased that she has got so far and I wouldn’t be surprised if she got a gold medal. I expect her to.
If she is in the zone, she will do it – she can do anything.”
Shelley said: “If I have an awesome run, it is possible – if it doesn’t go wrong.”
She has already come close after winning an Olympic silver medal in Turin, in 2006.
Her reunion with George was part of the West’s BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award 2009. The BBC is on the hunt for people like George – who change the lives of others through sport. Shelley, who has not seen George since she was competing as a junior, is thankful he spotted her sporting ability. She said: At the time I didn’t realise just how much dedication George had taken to come and coach me, but I look back now and I really remember a lot from this time. Whatever the weather he was always there setting up the hurdles and taking them down while I warmed up or down.”
Shelley is heading to Norway on Sunday for training and then on to Italy. A friend introduced her to bob skeleton and she asked to try it.
She said: “I also saw it on TV and thought: ‘I would like to have a go at that.”
Nominations for the BBC Sports Unsung Hero Award 2009 can be made at bbc.co.uk/sportsunsunghero.
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