SWINDON-BORN Craig Thompson is well on track to becoming one of the next big things in British Skeleton – and it’s all down to his dad.

Earlier this year, Thompson was unveiled as part of British Skeleton’s Talent Squad for 2015, highlighting him as one of the next generation of elite athletes in the sport in this country.

The former Covingham School and Dorcan Technology College student has only been involved in skeleton for around 18 months, having been inspired to take it up in the wake of the 2014 Winter Olympics.

But even that was by chance, with Thompson’s father intrigued as the sport’s Power to Podium programme was lauded after Lizzy Yarnold’s memorable slide to gold in Sochi.

“It was down to luck, really,” said 23-year-old Thompson.

“My dad was watching the Winter Olympics on TV last year and I came in from work. On the punditry after the skeleton, they were talking about Power to Podium and my dad said I should enter.

“I ummed and ahhed until finally I thought: ‘what have I got to lose?’.

“I put my name forward and then went on four or five different phases, which started off with more than 1,000 people, and was eventually whittled down to what the squad is now.

“It’s not every day that you grow up wanting to be a skeleton athlete. What made me do it was that I’ve always wanted to represent my county at a sport - it’s my ultimate dream.

“I was looking for different ways to try to represent my county and luckily enough, my dad was watching TV at the right time.

“I didn’t really care what sport it was, even if it was something like bowls. It was just a dream I’ve had since I was little, and why not this? Someone’s got to do it.”

After making headway through the selection progress, Thompson was among the chosen few allowed to cut their teeth on the ice.

However, throwing yourself down an ice track for the first time is certainly not something to approach nonchalantly – least of all if it is at the world famous Lillehammer venue, home of the 1994 Winter Olympics.

Thompson said: “The first time I was on the track, I can’t really say what I was thinking. I was really, really nervous.

“We didn’t start from the top. We started halfway down. You just lay on the sled with a coach’s foot stopping you.

“I was just thinking: ‘Oh my God, what’s going to happen?’ “It was the weirdest sensation and I was absolutely rubbish. I was hitting the sides but it felt absolutely amazing.

“Once I finished the run, I had the biggest smile on my face and I just wanted to do it again. The speed is phenomenal - it’s such a big rush.

“I’ve never been skydiving or bungee jumping, so I can’t really compare it. I can’t describe the feeling of going around a corner but when you do a run well, the speed you get feels so good.”

After finding his wings, Thompson is ready for flight and his next target is making it into competition squads.

Having watched Team GB shake up the skeleton world with gold medals at the last two Winter Olympics, Thompson is hungry for success of his own, although the 2018 Games in PyeongChang in South Korea will come too soon for him.

Thompson’s dream of representing Team GB at the grandest stage of all may still be some way off, but at least he is on the way to following in the footsteps of British Skeleton’s famous faces.

“We’re at the bottom of the pyramid at the moment and the Europa Cup circuit is the next step up,” said Thompson.

“Hopefully, from there, I can build up and reach the World Cup group and that’s where your World Championships and Olympic squads are chosen from.

“I probably won’t reach 2018, that’s probably too early for me. My goal is 2022, I want to be able to hit those Olympics.

“The success we’ve had in this sport already is a massive drive, especially as there hasn’t been a high male success rate at a World Cup standard.

"We’ve had Amy Williams and Lizzy Yarnold, so to do it for the male side would be amazing.”