Mum’s fears for skeleton star

Skeleton racer Seán Greenwood admits his mother finds it difficult to watch him compete.

Greenwood (26) who holds Irish and Canadian citizenship, makes his Winter Olympics debut representing Ireland at the Sanki Sliding Centre in Sochi on Friday.

Sibeal Foyle will be cheering her son on as he hurtles down the long ice tracks balanced precariously on a small sled at high speeds — head first.

Greenwood recounted an incident that caught his mother by surprise. “One of my runners hit the concrete and sent sparks right in the same corner she is standing in, and she almost had a nervous breakdown.”

Greenwood who is coached by Canadian Olympic silver medallist, Jeff Pain, had two impressive practice runs yesterday as he counts down to competition. And his mother promised to make her presence felt on Friday: “My mother has knitted us hats in the shape of the Irish flag. We’re going to be loud. There’s going to be two of us only, but we’re going to be very loud.”