Olympic Reflections: Mica Moore

Mica Moore interview: “Every time I go to the shops and I’m trying to buy some sneaky cakes I always get caught by someone with well wishes for me from the Olympics!”

GB brakewoman Mica Moore talks about the return to normality and reflects on her national-best performance at Pyeongchang.

“I don’t think it’s hit home yet that we were there competing.”

Great Britain has no ice. It has no sliding track. Not a real one anyway. Nations like Germany, Canada, USA, Austria and Switzerland have home tracks. Some of them even have club systems that nurture sliders from as young as 11. These speed-obsessed youngsters might have upwards of 2000 runs under their belts before emerging from their teens. In contrast, a British slider will be lucky to hit that number in their entire career; wherever a Team GB athlete shows up with a sled, the cards ought to be stacked against them. And so without an understanding of the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association’s attritious selection process, it’s hard to grasp how brake woman Mica Moore and her driver Mica McNeill – from the temperate, ice-free island of Britain – went on to finish ahead of competitors from such rightly-vaunted nations as Switzerland, Austria and Germany.

But their eighth-place finish was only the icing on the cake of an Olympic journey which almost failed to launch thanks to pre-qualifier funding cuts. Taking financial matters into their own hands, Mica Moore and Mica McNeill pushed their season towards Olympic qualification by crowd funding their World Cup campaign. But not content with merely getting to the Games, the pair set themselves an ambitious target: to finish inside the top ten.

“I’m really happy with how we did at the Games,” Mica says of their achievements. “We wanted to go there and enjoy it firstly and also to get a top-ten position, and I think coming away with eighth is amazing, I hope we made everyone who supported us proud.”

In both the run up to Pyeongchang and the post-Games media response, Mica and Mica have enjoyed a prolific media presence. Take a look at any of the many interviews circulating the web and you’ll notice a proclivity for uncontrolled laughter and smiles that break out whenever they’re trying to do a serious pose; if there was a medal for ebullience the Micas would have been odds on for a podium finish. And watching Mica’s performance at the Games it was obvious that here was an athlete enjoying every moment.

“My happiest moment of the Games was probably having my family there on the start line. I could see them when I came out to the block and I could hear them chanting and screaming, and it was amazing to have them there to support me. On the last run it even made me smile behind my helmet!”

I often wonder how an athlete returning from such an awe-inspiring event on the world stage reacquaints themselves with the trappings of normality. Skeleton bronze medallist Laura Deas gave me the impression that the return to equanimity doesn’t happen overnight, if ever.

“It’s so surreal!” Mica says. “I don’t think it’s hit home yet that we were there competing. On the first day back I was looking for any cleaning and washing I could do at home to fill my time, but it was the most amazing experience and time that I’ll never forget.”

But in truth, like Laura Deas, Mica hasn’t returned to the same manifestation of normality that she left. I point out, as if she needs me to, that she and Mica McNeill have become sporting national treasures both in the build up to, and during, the winter Olympics.

“It’s really strange to hear people say that but it’s also very nice!” she replies, and when I ask how her life has changed, says, “Well every time I go to the shop and I’m trying to buy some sneaky cakes I always get caught by someone with well wishes for me from the Olympics! It’s also lovely to think that I might inspire people to take up sport or to even take part in winter sports.”

That Mica has inspired budding athletes is indisputable, but in a way she’s also enabled them. With every Olympic discipline, the higher the finishing position the more favourable the funding allocation will be for the coming year. So has their result – the best British finish in two-woman bobsleigh – reflected positively in future budgets for the sport?

“We actually won’t find out for a little while yet,” Mica says. “Hopefully it will, but it’s something I’m trying not to think about for the moment, I’m just enjoying my time off!”

It’s a reward that she and McNeill have earned, but Mica’s future ambitions lie on a horizon that’s never far away.

“Moving forwards I have so many ambitions and goals. I think sometimes people think I’m a little bit unrealistic but I would love to achieve them all. I still do athletics in the summer so at the moment I’m training towards an outdoor season in athletics. I’m not sure what competitions I’m going to do yet! Also next year, bobsleigh is obviously the world champs in Whistler which would be cool!”

Fully equipped and with another year’s training behind them, it’s not unfeasible to conceive a podium place or two for the Micas should they wind up on the coming season’s bobsleigh circuit. And given the four years till Beijing 2022, who knows what they might achieve. No pressure ladies.

My thanks once again to Mica Moore for her time, it’s always an honour. You can keep up with Mica at the following feeds:

Twitter: @mica_lolita

Instagram: @micalm92