January 30, 2013 at 5:54 p.m.
It's a head-first effort for Singleton
With only three races remaining in which to qualify for next month's Winter Games in Vancouver, the 35-year-old Bermudian knows there's no margin for error.
But Singleton is made of sterner stuff these days and a recent podium finish at last month's Americas Cup Skeleton event in Lake Placid may have been the catalyst for better things to come.
The three-time Winter Olympian is back in Lake Placid this week where he hopes to take another giant step towards his ultimate goal competing in the FIBT Intercontinental Cup.
Mentally and physically, Singleton reckons he's up for the task.
He said: "I feel better than I have all season because of the setbacks I had earlier on in the season which caused a lot of stress and fatigue."
The Bermudian is also brimming with confidence.
"The quality of this week's field is very high as the world champion is here and the other athletes who broke the track record here three weeks ago.
"The best athletes in the world are here and so it's going to be an uphill battle trying to contend with these guys but I am holding my own."
On his previous visit to Lake Placid the affable athlete strung together two top ten finishes to earn a spot on the podium and breathe fresh air into a flagging Olympic campaign.
To illustrate how determined Singleton is, the multiple Olympian passed up turkey and cassava pie over the Christmas holiday to devote himself to extra training instead.
He now hopes the sacrifice won't go in vain.
"I've been lifting weights and doing all kinds of physical training and now I feel fast," he admitted.
All the hard work that Singleton has put in pumping iron over the past few weeks appears to be paying off as he has been among the fastest at the track during practice in the lead up to this week's competition.
He said: "I am not even trying and I am pushing quick. So that should translate to fast starting times when racing starts.
"Whoever didn't train over the Christmas holiday will be at a disadvantage."
In a sense, Singleton is a pioneer in his own right as he is the only Bermudian to compete in the luge and skeleton at the Winter Games - though he admits it hasn't been a smooth transition.
Learning
He said: "It has taken me four years of hard work and I'm still learning."
Only Singleton's best seven results will count towards Olympic qualification and anything shy of a good showing in Lake Placid this week could spell disaster.
He said: "For me this event is an important one - it could either make of break my Olympic qualifying quest. At the moment I am pretty well positioned. I had some very good races in the first half of the season and some not-so-good races that hopefully can be dropped from my overall ranking.
"We are only allowed to take seven races with us into Olympic qualification and I have nine to choose from. So hopefully a couple of my bad races can be dropped.
"It's still a long way to go, but I'm holding my own in training and my times are pretty competitive at the moment."
Singleton needs to be in the top 60 in the world to earn his Vancouver Olympics slot. He is currently 70th.
Tucker Murphy has already qualified in cross country skiing and if Singleton makes it, the pair will make Bermuda's largest ever participation in the Winter Games.
The Winter Games begin in February.[[In-content Ad]]
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