The waterfront urban domain of Melbourne Docklands is a strange location to find hopeful Winter Olympic athletes, yet this Saturday morning fifteen of them will be striving for their position on the National Touring Team.

A group of men and women, avid to represent Australia in Bobsleigh at the Torino Games next February, will engage in a series of “push tests” around a concrete circuit at Docklands.

The athletes will push a two man bobsled, weighted accordingly, over a thirty metre distance. Each will get two “runs” with the fastest result to count.

Former AFL player Glen Manton, who represented Carlton in the 1995 premiership, is determined to make the National Touring Team. He has stacked on 15kg to improve his chances in the sport.

“The push tests are all about a decent start.” he said “It is crucial to move quickly and powerfully across the first three steps.”

He admits that racing on rails is completely different to hurtling down an icy run in the mountains; similarly you cannot play football without the footy. Yet living in the warmer Australian climate this is the best way for selectors to replicate testing conditions.

Glen sees these tests as a stepping stone to the real challenge in late October when the National Touring Team travels overseas. Seven males and six females will compete in a series of International events to qualify a spot at Torino.

Glen is focused on representing Australia at the Winter Olympics. It is just one of his long term goals, having closed the chapter on his football career.

AOC