Bath (RWH) The International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation IBSF mourns the death of former bobsleigh pilot Tony Nash from Great Britain. The British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association BBSA in Bath announced that he passed away peacefully in his sleep on March 17th, a day before his 86th birthday.
In 1964, Tony Nash piloted his 2-man sled to Team GB‘s maiden Olympic bobsleigh gold medal, taking the sport’s ultimate prize alongside Robin Dixon in Innsbruck (AUT). The story of this gold medal is inextricably linked with famous Italian bobsleigh pilot Eugenio Monti. Monti, one of the most successful pilots in history, and Nash were both among the favourites at the 1964 Winter Olympics. As a bolt of the British sled broke, Monti helped his competitors with the matching part of his own sled. In the end, Monti and brakeman Sergio Siorpaes finished third with Nash/Dixon claiming gold. Monti later recieved the Pierre de Coubertin award for his sportsmanship.
World Championship gold followed in 1965, as Nash/Dixon claimed the title in St Moritz (SUI). No British men’s team has matched that achievement since, with Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke the only other British athletes to take the world title in the 2-woman Bobsleigh event in 2009.
Tony Nash and Robin Dixon share the rare honour of having a corner named after them at the home of sliding in St. Moritz.
