Leon Greenwood’s journey to the Milano-Cortina 2026 Winter Games is nothing short of extraordinary. Just five years ago, the Batley-born, University of Bath-trained former police officer faced the grim reality that he might never walk properly again, let alone compete at an elite athletic level.
Known for his speed as a lightning-fast sprinter from West Yorkshire and a former Welsh 200m champion, Greenwood had his eyes set on the Summer Olympics. But in 2020, a catastrophic ankle injury shattered those dreams and led doctors to deliver a bleak prognosis: his competitive running career was over.
Unwilling to accept that fate, Greenwood embarked on a grueling two-year rehabilitation journey, rebuilding his strength and determination from the ground up. His perseverance paid off in 2022 when he impressed coaches during a talent identification day at Bath’s Sports Training Village. However, the day after his selection, he fractured a toe, forcing him to sit out yet another season.
READ MORE: £5 Million Wetlands Project Approved for Somerset Levels and Moors
READ MORE: Discover the Stunning Beauty of Poet’s Walk in Clevedon, Somerset
Most would have given up—but Greenwood’s police officer discipline kept him going. He made his bobsleigh debut in late 2023, and his rise since then has been nothing short of meteoric, earning comparisons to the inspirational story told in the film Cool Runnings—one of his personal favorites.
In the 2025/26 bobsleigh season, Greenwood has become an indispensable member of Brad Hall’s world-class four-man crew. Their team recently finished as the highest-ranked non-German squad, securing 4th place in the overall World Cup standings after Altenberg.
Off the ice, Greenwood is a certified personal trainer and motivational speaker who has inspired over 30,000 students in the past year. He also runs a successful online coaching business, spreading his mantra: “Visualise it. Work for it. Make it happen.”
“Obstacles will come—but how you respond is everything,” Greenwood says, embodying the resilience that has defined his journey.
As the only Olympic debutant on Brad Hall’s four-man bobsleigh team, Greenwood combines the hunger and fresh drive of a newcomer with the veteran experience of teammates Taylor Lawrence and Greg Cackett. Together, they aim to turn Team GB’s bobsleigh dreams into reality.