Leon Greenwood’s journey is nothing short of extraordinary. Just five years ago, this Batley-born, University of Bath-trained athlete was told he might never walk without pain again. Now, at 28, he’s gearing up to represent Team GB in the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games as a key member of the four-man bobsleigh team.
Once a lightning-fast sprinter and Welsh 200m champion with dreams of Olympic glory in track and field, Greenwood’s aspirations were derailed in 2020 by a devastating ankle injury. Doctors doubted he would ever compete at a high level again. But instead of surrendering, Greenwood’s relentless determination saw him commit to two intense years of rehabilitation.
His break came in 2022, when he impressed coaches at a talent identification event at the Sports Training Village in Bath. Just as he was gaining momentum, a broken toe sidelined him for another season—yet his resilience never wavered. Drawing on the discipline he honed as a police officer, Greenwood made his bobsleigh debut late in 2023 and has since exploded onto the scene.
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This season, he played a crucial role in leading Team GB’s four-man crew to finish as the highest-ranked non-German team in the world, securing an impressive 4th place overall in Altenberg.
Beyond the ice track, Greenwood is also a qualified personal trainer and motivational speaker, inspiring over 30,000 students in the past year through his online coaching business. His personal motto—“Visualise it. Work for it. Make it happen”—embodies his journey and his message of perseverance.
“Obstacles will come—but how you respond is everything,” says Greenwood, reflecting on his remarkable turnaround.
As the only Olympic debutant on Brad Hall’s four-man squad, Greenwood combines youthful hunger with hard-won experience. While his teammates bring years of veteran savvy, his incredible comeback story adds a powerful edge to Team GB’s quest for bobsleigh gold in Italy.