FORMER Tamworth High vice captain Duncan Harvey will once again don the Australian colours for a Winter Olympics.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Harvey was named in both the two-man and four-man bobsleigh teams yesterday to travel to Sochi, Russia, for the Games next month.
The man they call “SuperHarv” has been to the Games before.
He finished 22nd in the two- man event at the Vancouver Games four years ago, although unfortunately had to withdraw from the four-man event due to a concussion sustained in a crash on the controversially fast course.
Harvey will partner with pilot Heath Spence in both disciplines.
Spence was unlucky not to make the Vancouver Games, but has since changed from brakeman to pilot in order to make the team.
Harvey was brakeman at the last Games and will hold his position at the back.
In the four-man squad they will be joined by Gareth Nichols and former West Australian sprinter Lucas Mata.
Mata and Harvey have something in common in that they are both former track athletes.
Harvey is a former hurdler who had much local success before moving on to compete at the sport nationally.
Between 2001-07 Harvey was rated as one of the top five 110m hurdlers in Australia, peaking with a bronze medal at the Nationals.
In 2007 the athlete changed sports and began sleighing, two years later he competed at the World Championships, and then the Olympics the following year.
Recently Harvey managed a second and two fourths at the North America’s Cup in Lake Placid.
His bobsleigh highlight to date was a second place at the 2012 America’s Cup bobsled in Park City, USA.
Earlier this year Harvey returned to Tamworth for the opening of the Tamworth Olympians’ wall of honour at Ray White House.
Harvey’s name went on a plaque alongside thirteen other Tamworthians who have shared the same honour.
Australia has selected its biggest ever Winter Olympics teams for the Sochi Games.
Australia has also qualified for the female two-man event, with another former athlete competing.
Two-time Summer Olympic track star Jana Pitman has crossed sports and seasons to join the bobsleigh team.
Pitman will partner Astrid Radjenovic who is competing at her third Olympic Games.
The bobsleigh events will be held at the Sanki Sliding Centre from Sunday February 16 to Wednesday 19, with the finals on Saturday and Sunday February 22 and 23.