Nick Poloniato

Biography

Nick Poloniato was a standout defensive back in his four years playing football for the Bishops University Gaiters. But an untimely broken leg led to him missing a chance at his CFL aspirations. He found a new competitive outlet in bobsleigh, immediately stepping into the role of pilot in January 2013. He entered his first races just two months later. After finishing third at the Canadian champions to start the 2013-14 season, Poloniato headed out onto the North American Cup circuit. He spent the early part of the next season back on the North American Cup but after multiple podium finishes, including two wins, he made his first World Cup start in the two-man event in December. He ended the season by making his world championship debut, also in the two-man.

After spending 2015-16 primarily on the Europa Cup circuit, Poloniato joined the World Cup team full-time in 2016-17. He surpassed all expectations with a fifth-place finish in the two-man event at the world championships with Neville Wright. He followed up with an impressive fourth-place finish in the two-man event at the PyeongChang 2018 test event with Lascelles Brown. Poloniato had another near-podium finish in January 2018 when he placed fourth in Altenberg with Wright.

In his Olympic debut at PyeongChang 2018, Poloniato piloted his two-man sled to a seventh place finish and his four-man sled to a 12th place finish.

A little more about Nick

Outside Interests: Graduated from Bishops University with a Bachelor of Business Administration, major in Entrepreneurship… Would like to become a firefighter in his post-bobsleigh career… Enjoys fishing in the off-season…Odds and Ends: Coach Lyndon Rush is one of his biggest role models for always being cool and calm under pressure… Has a particular stone that he holds in his hands before each run…