Kiwi to race skeleton at PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games

Skeleton racer Rhys Thornbury is the latest addition to the New Zealand team for next month’s Winter Olympics in South Korea.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee announced on Friday the 28-year-old’s inclusion for the February 9-25 PyeongChang event.

Thornbury has been selected off the back of steady results on the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation World Cup circuit, recording five top-10 finishes in 2017 and an 11th placing at last year’s World Championships.

He has dual UK/New Zealand citizenship and is a member of the British Royal Air Force (RAF). He first tried skeleton in Austria in 2011, making it onto the World Cup circuit in 2015.

‘‘What drew me to the sport was not knowing anything about it,’’ Thornbury said.

‘‘I’d played rugby and softball as a kid in New Zealand and this was so different ... I thought it looked so cool.

‘‘I love the feeling when you’re on the start line before the race and all that adrenaline is going and you know you only have one chance to get it right.

‘‘Also the feeling when you come across the finish line and know you’ve had a good run ...’’

Speeds on the international circuit get up to around 145kmh but the track for the Winter Olympics is slightly slower, meaning speeds will be around 120kmh.

‘‘The PyeongChang track is good, it’s got some really technical parts to it, so for someone like me who thrives on technical tracks where driving is really important, I quite like it,’’ Thornbury said.

He will contest the final World Cup race of the season in Konigssee, Germany, on Friday evening.