Patrick O'Brien Q&A: 'I broke five ribs, and a bit of my collarbone'

Patrick O’Brien is an Irish international skeleton racer. He recently returned to the ice at Park City, Utah in preparation for this weekend’s North American Cup, which comes at the end of a turbulent season...

Ireland has some history in skeleton competitions, with Clifton Wrottesley having finished fourth at the 2002 Winter Olympics. This weekend O’Brien will be competing at that same Park City track that hosted the 2002 Games and is labelled the second fastest track in the world. It will be a new challenge for the Kilkenny native who’s now living and training in Bath, where the successful Team GB’s unique push track facility is located.

Q: In short, skeleton racing involves sliding head-first on a sled down an ice tunnel at motorway speeds, with your chin an inch from the ice. So, when you stand at the top of that track, do you get scared?