Olympic options doubled

DAVID Coleman is an athlete with summer and winter Olympic aspirations – in discus and bobsleigh.

While he admits he is unlikely to make London 2012, that won't stop him savouring the discus trials at the Olympic stadium later this month.

The 26-year-old Tonbridge athlete is one of 13 top throwers invited to the trials, but would need a huge improvement on his lifetime best of 56.50m to qualify.

"I did the Olympic trials in 2008 – that was my first big trials," he said. "To do it again, in my home country's Olympic stadium, is fantastic. Just to be in a mix and be good enough to try out is a dream come true. I'll be up against the big boys. Guys who are 6ft 6in. I'm just a little puppy compared to them."

Business Cards From Only £10.95 Delivered www.myprint-247.co.uk

myprint-247

View details

Print voucher

Our heavyweight cards have FREE UV silk coating, FREE next day delivery & VAT included. Choose from 1000's of pre-designed templates or upload your own artwork. Orders dispatched within 24hrs.

Terms: Visit our site for more products: Business Cards, Compliment Slips, Letterheads, Leaflets, Postcards, Posters & much more. All items are free next day delivery. www.myprint-247.co.uk

Contact: 01858 468192

Valid until: Friday, May 31 2013

After a shaky start to the season, Coleman has hit his stride and threw 51.89m in the last round of the British Universities Championships to take the silver medal. He was delighted with his display and the experience of competing in the Olympic stadium was one he will never forget.

"It's absolutely amazing," he said of the stadium. "When there was the announcement back in 2005 there was all the hype and build up. But now I've had access to the discus circle. You look up and around and see a stadium that will be full of people. It's mind boggling. I threw well and was pleased."

However, Coleman's international sporting future may just lie away from track and field.

At the weekend the cover teacher at Mascalls School tried out for the national bobsleigh team and, incredibly, has been selected for the GB development squad.

He ran a 30m sprint in 3.78sec, did a standing long jump of 3.08m, bench pressed 170kg and squatted 220kg to get the qualifying standards.

"It's crazy," he said. "I always knew I had a bit of power in my legs, but this is all a bit of a shock. By no means am I giving up the discus, but I've always wanted to represent my country and to do it in a sport I have never laid my eyes on is crazy. I'm still getting my head around it."

Coleman is off to Bath this weekend to get his hands on a bobsleigh for real.

Forget London 2012, Sochi 2014 could be more the mark.