Walker talks up chances

INSPIRED by her teammate Jackie Narracott, Australian bobsleigh driver Bree Walker is starting to feel bullish about her own chances at the Beijing Winter Olympics.

Narracott has been one of the breakout stars of the Aussie team in China and Walker says her stunning performances have given a lift to the entire team.

“I’m so excited for Jackie. We both moved away from Australia to pursue the sport, and it really shows that, if you put your whole heart into something, you can really be successful,” Walker said.

“It shows that Aussies can hold their own in the sliding world. We don’t have to be from these big North American or European nations.”

Australia’s lone representative in monobob – or solo bobsleigh – Walker is rated as a genuine medal contender after setting the track alight during her training runs at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre.

She recorded the fastest time in three of the six practice runs, as well as the second quickest in the last hitout before the event gets under way on Sunday.

“I feel like everything has come together over the last few days. We’re trying out a few things to fix a few corners, and it’s all worked out,” she said.