Bromley looks long-term in Olympic quest

By Stephen Bond

Kristan Bromley insists his failure to defend his Skeleton World Championship title this year was all part of his Olympic masterplan.

DOCTOR ICE: Kristan Bromley remains unfazed by his poor showing at the World Championships (Getty Images)

The double Olympian - who finished fifth in Turin in 2006 - completed a unique treble last season with gold medals at the World Championships, World Cup and European Championships.

There was to be no repeat this term with the self-styled 'Dr Ice' settling for silver at the Euros in St Moritz and ninth in the World Cup series before finishing 14th at February's World Championships in Lake Placid.

But the 27-year-old, who also won the World Cup in 2003/4, is adamant this season's results were part of an overall plan to ensure he arrives in Vancouver in just under a year from now in the perfect shape to land the one prize that has eluded him - Olympic gold.

"I am exactly where I wanted to be to be honest - low key. I have taken a step back and watched what everyone else has been doing," said Bromley, whose partner is Olympic silver medallist Shelley Rudman.

"That was always my plan - I was never going to be able to go out and repeat what I did in 2008 winning the World Cup, the European Championships and the World Championships so I didn't even try to do that.

"My only goal left now is the Olympics - I have been lucky enough to go to two others and I have seen lots of different strategies so for me this year has been about just making sure that I am fit and healthy for the Olympic year and I have been quite happy with the way things are going.

"Don't get me wrong I don't like going into competitions and being tenth but it is fair on my position at this stage because I am repositioning myself for the coming year.

"I am aiming to peak in Vancouver - a lot of athletes are good at peaking too early - it is not an exact science - it is a mix of science and art in terms of doing that.

"People may look at me and say you won everything last year but this year you didn't but that has been my plan not to win everything this year - if it had happened it would have been great but it was never my focus.

"I was playing around with equipment, ideas, thoughts on new driving concepts and the only time I can train and practice those is actually in a competition because that is when I see if they work or not."

Despite his failure to repeat last year's heroics Bromley will head to Vancouver as one of GB's biggest medal hopes, as he did in 2006.

But this Bromley won't be alone this time around with Rudman and World Championship silver medallists Amy Williams and Adam Pengilly all serious medal prospects for Team GB in 2010.

And Bromley is adamant the strength of the British squad will help, not hinder, his chances of realising his Olympic dream.

"This will be my third and each one has been slightly different - Salt Lake City was my first and I came away with an amazing feeling," he added.

"I went into Turin off the back of being the No.1 in the World Cup two years before that so a similar position to where I am now but because there wasn't any other real strong contenders I was still billed as being as a gold medal hope for GB.

"But this time around there is a lot of other British athletes in the mix and that is going to be good for me because I can kind of hide behind them.

"It will be a different experience this time but I think you have to plan for that - I am just going to go and enjoy - you can never say never, but this will probably be my last Olympics - so I just want to go there and have a good time."