Skeleton racer John Farrow has overcome terrible injuries to qualify for the Sochi Winter Olympics. Source: Alex Livesey / Getty Images
THREE years ago John Farrow looked down in horror at his mangled left leg and thought his dreams of Winter Olympics glory were over.
On a running track in Lake Placid, USA, the Blacktown-born skeleton racer had stumbled during sprint training and suffered a devastating injury.
Farrow, 31, ruptured two knee ligaments, snapped his popliteal tendon, tore his hamstring off the bone, broke his tibia and suffered long-term nerve damage.
Last week he capped off his remarkable recovery by being named on the Australian team to compete at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.
"I am very excited about wearing the green and gold into Russia," Farrow said.
"I have always been able to remain positive I will get to Sochi throughout my injury, so day by day it hasn't seemed impossible."
The extreme sport of skeleton sees athletes guide a small sled down a frozen track at breathtaking speeds topping 140km/h.
Farrow, who started his athletic career as a mountain biker but took up skeleton in 2008, said he tries to keep his mind clear as his body experiences forces of up to 5gs.
Farrow is still hampered by his injuries. Source: News Limited
"If your mind or focus is elsewhere then it can start to get messy, hitting concrete walls at that speed ... it can get dangerous and out of control pretty fast," he said.
"The road of development for any slider is full of hard hits, a lot of bruises and some wild crashes."
Farrow qualified for the Australian team courtesy of a 12th-place finish at a World Cup event in St Moritz, Switzerland, earlier this month.
While he concedes his starting speed is still hampered by the lingering effects of his injuries, he believes he is capable of challenging for a medal in Sochi.
Farrow's strength lies in his speed and skill on the steepest parts of the track.
"It's been a race against the clock to get my strength and power to a level (where) I can start competitively," he said.
"Everyone goes to the Games and wants a medal and for me this is the same.
"I believe I have the skill to get one."
Having lived locally until the age of 12 and attended St Michael's Primary and Patrician Brothers, Farrow said he was grateful to have the Blacktown community cheering him on.
"Playing rugby league for St Pats (Patrician Brothers) back then developed an athletic drive in me," he said.
"Those young years are some of the fondest memories I have in sport.
"It's great to know I will have the support of Blacktown as I go to Russia to compete for Australia."
The men's skeleton event in Sochi will be held on February 14 and 15.
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