Patrick Singleton could understand the awkward moment that occurred during the medal presentation following the Nations Cup luge competition in La Plagne, France, on Sunday.

After all, a Bermudian had never won a medal before in the staple sport of the Winter Olympics.

"They went to raise the Bermuda flag -- and they didn't have one,'' said Singleton yesterday, a day after his stunning third-place finish on the icy track that hosted the luge competition during 1992 Games in Albertville.

The flag of the International Luge Federation was hoisted instead but the way things are going, somebody better get a Bermuda one.

In the first international race of the season, the 23-year-old son of Island tennis pro Derek Singleton rocked the European-dominated sport and is now threatening to become only the second Bermudian to ever compete in the Winter Olympics.

"Ever since I was a little boy, I've wanted to compete in the Olympics,'' Singleton said by phone from Austria, where he is training for this weekend's World Cup event. "I never knew how I was going to get there. I sure didn't think I'd get there in luge.'' Simon Payne was the only other Bermudian Winter Olympian and Singleton credits him for his own meteoric rise. Payne held an open dry-land luge camp in Bermuda 18 months ago and "I just picked it up from him,'' Singleton said.

Now, armed with a Romanian coach, his own sled and natural ability, Singleton is this week aiming for a spot in the 1998 Games in Nagano, Japan. The top seven percent of training times at the end of the week qualify and based on yesterday's results, Singleton would be there.

"I'm pretty optimistic,'' he said. "But you can never tell.'' If he fails this week, Singleton will get another shot later this month in Calgary, Alberta.

On Sunday's 1.2-kilometre track in La Plagne, he overcame a crash at the finish to clock a first run of 46.7 seconds and a second of 47.1 seconds for the bronze medal.

While his success may summon memories of the Jamaican bobsled team, Singleton isn't as overwhelmed as others. Never mind the Island's size or climate, he figures Bermuda can compete regularly and well.

"I believe we can build a team to win a medal in 2006,'' he says.

"It doesn't matter if you come from Bermuda or you come from Russia, as long as you have a good coach and you train hard, you can succeed.'' In fact, Singleton, a former competitive sailor, figures Bermudians have an edge based on sheer "natural talent'' and competitive instincts.

The key to luge, he said, is in conditioning -- pushing the 50-pound sled to the apex of the track -- and in the mind -- staying relaxed and fearless while whipping through some 16 different gravity-defying corners at speeds of up to 150 kph.

Knowing the track is critical, he said. "It's like a golf course -- every hole is different.'' Because weight is an advantage sliding down a steep ice surface, Singleton, who weighs in at only 143 pounds, is allowed to carry 29 additional pounds of lead -- a hindrance during the run-up.

That's where conditioning comes in. His starts have been among the fastest of all competitors and represents the biggest improvement since last year, he said.

PATRICK SINGLETON -- Third-place finish in the Nations Cup on Sunday gave Bermuda its first luge medal.