After 17 years competing at the pinnacle of sprinting and representing Great Britain in two Summer Olympics, Ashleigh Nelson faced an unexpected crossroads. Injuries dashed her hopes for Paris 2024, making her question if her elite sporting days were behind her. But a chance message on Instagram introduced her to a new path—bobsleigh.
Nelson is now preparing to make her Winter Olympic debut as the brakewoman alongside pilot Adelé Nicoll in the two-woman bobsleigh event at Milano-Cortina 2026.
Her journey to the ice began when Nicoll reached out with an invitation. “People have slid into my DMs before, but this time was a little different,” Nelson recalls with a laugh. “Adelé asked if I’d ever thought about trying bobsleigh. She said I had the ‘ticks’—strength, speed, and power.”
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A trial at the University of Bath’s state-of-the-art push-start facility—the only one in the UK—revealed Nelson’s natural aptitude. By early 2025, she was making her competitive debut on the ice in Winterberg, quickly establishing herself as a force in the new sport.
Nelson’s extensive sprinting résumé speaks to her competitive pedigree: two-time Olympian (Beijing 2008, Tokyo 2020), World Championship silver and bronze medalist in the 4x100m relay, European champion, and Commonwealth Games gold medalist in Birmingham 2022. Her transition to bobsleigh now places her among the select few British athletes who have competed in both Summer and Winter Olympic Games, including fellow sprinter Montell Douglas.
Switching from the explosive power required for a 100m sprint to the demanding push of a 250kg bobsled on ice is no small adjustment. Nelson has honed her “explosive start” at Bath, recently recording an impressive solo push time of 6.24 seconds—a milestone she describes as “exhilarating.”
Bath’s training facilities and supportive environment have been key to Nelson’s ascent in bobsleigh. Despite competing in only a handful of major ice events—including the 2025 World Championships—she’s become an integral member of “Team Nicoll.”
Athletic excellence is a family trait. Nelson’s brother, Alexander, also excelled as an international sprinter, joining her on the British squad for Beijing 2008. Their cousin Curtis Nelson has made his mark as a professional footballer with Derby County.
At a recent team event in Bath, Nelson and her teammates were celebrated as vital links in the “unbreakable chain” of British sliding success. For Nelson, this new chapter is not just about her own achievements but about embracing challenges alongside other powerful women.
“At this stage in my career, I’m happy to share success with other strong women,” she says. Together with Adelé Nicoll, Ashleigh Nelson looks forward to pushing boundaries and racing down the ice in Cortina on February 20th.