Sheffield Ex-Pat Olympian Nick Phipps Dies aged 72

[Def Cougar]

Nick Phipps (8 April 1952 – 24 April 2024) was an athlete in Sheffield for several years (Decathlon 1970s-1980s) and later Britain’s first World Cup Champion and Olympian in the Bobsleigh (1980 – 1992), as pilot, both 4-man and 2-man teams. He retired from his Olympic endeavours in 1992, and continued coaching various disciplines over the time since down south, including decalthon and pole vault, latterly at a sports centre in Eton,Windsor. He also commentated on BBC 2 in the 1994 Olympics live coverage from Kvitfjell on the 2-man bobsleigh event.

 Nick also co-owned the Sheffield sports shop, Corden Phipps Sports with fellow athlete and Olympian decathlete and teacher Mike Corden, a well known Sheffield athlete and coach.

Nick was a native of the south, and was regarded by all who knew him as a real gentleman, but particularly by the athletic and sporting community, which bobsleigh teams still strive today for the standards he set. He stayed involved in the sport, and was consulted in the creation of computer games involving it.

 

He never forgot his friends, old and new, no matter how famous he became. Everyone who knew him will miss him.

 

RIP Nick, love ya!