In this episode of the Science for Sport Podcast, Richard Graves is joined by Olympic silver medallist and high performance coach Eric Franke.

Eric competed for Germany in bobsleigh, winning Olympic silver in Pyeongchang 2018 alongside multiple World Championship medals across two-man and four-man competition. Since retiring from elite competition, he has moved into high performance coaching, working with athletes in speed development, sprint mechanics and sliding sports.

This conversation explores what it really takes to perform under Olympic pressure, the physical demands of bobsleigh, and why speed still doesn’t always get the attention it deserves in team sport environments.

Eric breaks down the qualities needed to accelerate a heavy sled on ice, the difference between being fast and being effective in a sport-specific context, and why developing speed requires more than simply adding sprint drills into a programme.

He also reflects openly on his own career, including the mistakes he made as an athlete, the value of testing and tracking progress honestly, and how his coaching philosophy has developed around communication, individualisation and helping athletes become more independent decision-makers.

For sports science professionals, coaches and practitioners working in elite sport, this episode offers a detailed look at speed development, athlete management, pressure, and the transition from elite performer to high performance coach.

In this episode you will learn

What it feels like to compete at the Olympic Games and handle pressure when medals are expected
The role of the brakeman in bobsleigh and why the start phase is so technically and physically demanding
Why sprint speed does not always transfer directly into bobsleigh performance
The key physical qualities behind acceleration, rate of force development and efficient movement
Why speed training needs to be prioritised properly within the weekly training structure
How plyometrics, jumping and coordination can support speed development
Why Eric believes athletes can sometimes spend too much time in the gym
The importance of testing, measuring and honestly tracking progress
How Eric’s experience as a self-coached athlete now shapes the way he coaches others
Why experienced athletes often need guidance, guardrails and conversation rather than simply being told what to do
How coaches can adapt communication to the individual athlete in front of them
Why Eric’s ultimate coaching goal is to create “sovereign athletes” who can make better decisions when the coach is not there

About Eric Franke
Eric Franke is a former German bobsleigh athlete and Olympic silver medallist. He competed at the highest level in both two-man and four-man bobsleigh, winning silver at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang and multiple medals at World Championship level.

Since retiring from competition, Eric has moved into high performance coaching, with a particular focus on speed development, sprint performance and athlete decision-making. He works with athletes across different performance environments, including bobsleigh and skeleton, helping them improve physical qualities while developing a deeper understanding of their own training process.

His coaching approach is shaped by his own experience as an elite athlete, combining technical speed development with individualised communication, clear training frameworks and an emphasis on helping athletes become more self-sufficient.

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