A SPORTS assistant at Essex University has made Team GB’s Skeleton team and being inspired by watching the winter Olympics.

Daniel Read successfully applied to the Discover Your Gold Talent ID programme, after seeing Team GB’s success at the games in Pyeongchang in 2018.

He is about to start winter training which will last from October to March travelling to Norway, Germany and Austria to gain experience on different tracks.

Skeleton racing involves the competitor riding head-first and lying face down on a flat sled.

Despite no previous experience in competitive winter sports, Daniel wanted to see if he had the potential for an Olympic sport.

He regularly plays football and trains in the gym.

Daniel was one of 3,000 people invited to trials held throughout the UK earlier this year.

The trial sessions involved a variety of physical tests. Daniel was then called to attend a Skeleton trial in Bath along with 40 others.

He attended trials from June to January this year and, by February, only 11 candidates remained.

The final phase of selection involved an ice camp at Lillehammer in Norway to try the Skeleton on ice for the first time.

Dan said: “I remember being really nervous but excited.

“I can’t compare anything I’ve done before to what it feels like going down the track.

“I really enjoyed my two weeks and was lucky enough to be one of seven athletes chosen for the team in April.”

Training then began for the summer months, with a focus on developing strength and power for sprint starts.

He said: “Coaches, video analysis and teammates all work together to help individual progression and so everyone can be their best.

“We hope to be competing at the European Cup within three years.”

Dan is hoping to move to Bath to begin training full time.

He said: “A big thanks to Essex Sport for sharing my story and to all of my friends I work with at the Sports Centre.

“Everyone has been really supportive and excited for me, which I am really thankful for.”