Dr Ice Kristan Bromley deserves his Olympic moment

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Whistler

KRISTAN Bromley's has helped his team-mates to the podium at the last two Olympics - and there would be no more popular or deserved British medallist in Vancouver.

ICE MAN COMETH: Kristan Bromley has been posting some mixed times in training - but insists he is ready to peak in Thursday's men's skeleton (Getty Images)

Alex Coomber's bronze in Salt Lake, which Shelley Rudman upgraded to silver four years ago in Torino, means that skeleton has become the cycling of winter sports, with British success here in Whistler demanded, rather than expected.

Both claimed their podium finish on sleds designed by Bromley, the self-styled Dr Ice, whose Bromley Technologies company is the McLaren of sliding.

For those who dismiss his sport as sliding down a hill on a tea tray, Bromley rightly has no regard. 

His meticulous attention to detail is legendary on the World Cup circuit. As dawn broke over the Whistler Sliding Centre yesterday, he was walking down the course, jabbing his hydrometer into the ice and planning last minute adjustments.

Meanwhile, back down at the finish, partner Rudman played with the couple's two year old daughter Ella, completing the picture of this strange but very happy family.

Rudman makes no secret of the Svengali role Bromley has played in her career, she is one of many former track athletes to make the transition to the sport but Bromley is a slider in the true traditions of skeleton's Cresta Run pioneers.

"It's hard to underplay the role that Kristan has had on his sport - both in our country and around the world," said British Skeleton's performance director Andi Schmid.

"No-one works harder than him on pushing the boundaries. I can get quite emotional when I think about it because he is just such a good guy. No-one deserves a medal more."

Four years ago Bromley had all the pressure but finished just outside the medals in fifth, while the little known Rudman stormed to silver.

This time around the roles are reversed but Schmid expects both to cope.

"I know there will be pressure but I'm not worried about Shelley," he adds.

"At the end of the day she is a big performer - she has just proved it this year again but she is also aware because of past results that people are expecting big things.

"But you can't do anything about that, you have to just prepare the best you can. 

"I think there is pressure on Kristan and Shelley for different reasons but I would say that is just part of every day life for them.

"You need to have luck on race day for sure, other nations aren't sleeping and the competition will be bigger than in 2006."