Bobsleighers in medal hopes

Britain's winter Olympic hopefuls are aiming to bring home bobsleigh medals.

Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke, Britain's world champion bobsleighers in Vancouver for the 2010 Winter Olympics, are determined to put in their best performances.

Minichiello and Cooke became Great Britain’s first female bobsleigh world champions in Lake Placid last year.

Both athletes have represented their country in other disciplines; Minichiello as a heptathlete and Cook in the pole vault and long jump.

The winning match was made after Minichiello posted an advert on Facebook and Cooke replied.

British skier, 27-year-old Chemmy Alcott hopes the company of her teammates will also spur her on to win.

The Londoner admits she is ranked as an outsider for a ski podium place in Vancouver but wants to perform well enough to win.

Alcott will be competing in the slalom, giant slalom, super G and super combined as well as racing in the downhill at speeds of around 60 miles per hour.

She said: “If everything goes perfectly on the day I would be in with a really good chance of winning.”