Former Wakefield College Sport student, Leon Greenwood, competed in the 2026 Milan Winter Olympics for Team GB in the 4-Man Bobsleigh team.
Having grown up in Batley before studying at Wakefield College, Leon has always had a keen interest in sport. He began his sporting career as a sprinter, setting a personal record in the 100-metre sprint of 10.42 seconds, before suffering a severe ankle cartilage injury. He was told the devastating news that he would never be able to run again, but after two years of rehabilitation and perseverance, Leon found himself on the unlikely path into bobsleighing.
After attending a talent identification day, where young people can showcase their abilities for professional scouts, he was discovered and invited to trial out.
Through sheer determination, Leon progressed onto the elite bobsleighing programme within just two years. Not long after, his dedication meant that he was nearing his dream of competing at the Olympics when he was selected for Team GB’s bobsleighing team at the Milan Winter Olympics.
As a brakesman for Team GB, Leon is responsible for pushing the sled and operating the brakes to stop it: with bobsleighs reaching speeds of 97 miles per-hour, this is an incredibly important role within the team.
Speaking to Newbury News about his Olympic experience, Leon said: “The experience was everything I imagined – from the Olympic village to the competition, how it felt having my friends and family out there – it’s fulfilled everything. As soon as I started bobsleighing four years ago, I set out to be an Olympian and I truly believed I could do it, even with the trials and tribulations that I’ve had to go through. Being an Olympian now, I feel like I have a responsibility to represent my country and be that positive role model to the next generation.”
Leon’s time studying Sport at Wakefield College meant that he was taught by industry experts with access to state-of-the-art facilities, all of which prepared him for a career in sport. He recognises his influence over the younger generations and he delivers motivational talks to students in which he emphasises just how important having self-belief is.
Level 2 Sport student Finley Brierley-Fox is also following in Leon’s footsteps. After competing in a national weightlifting competition, Fin won gold and is now setting his sights on his dream to compete for Team GB in the Olympics.
He has highlighted just how valuable studying Sport at Wakefield College has been in supporting his weightlifting career. Fin said: “Studying Level 2 Sport at Wakefield College has been beneficial to my weightlifting as I can combine knowledge from the classroom with practical skills. We do gym sessions which are constantly making me stronger. Because I am studying something that I love every day, I still have the motivation after College to go to training. All of this together is so important in preparing me for the future.”
To find out more about the Group’s Sport courses, visit its website: https://www.heartofyorkshire.ac.uk/.