“Britain’s hopes of medal glory at this year’s Winter Olympics in Turin remain as slim as ever, with curling once again the best bet for home success.
“The heroes of the last Games, Rhona Martin and Alain Baxter, have both endured tough times since. The sport authorities have tried to ensure minimum standards prevents any ‘Eddie the Eagle’ style haplessness overshadowing the business of serious competition and if one or two Britons can hit top form, then they may spring a surprise, but with the traditional medal haul being one or two, the champagne is most definitely on ice.
“Essentially, every competitor in the British team must have shown potential to finish in the top half of the field. Naturally, Britain hasn’t got the facilities to be become a real threat for a significant medal haul.
“Britain’s men’s curling team, captained by David Murdoch, a 27-year old from Lockerbie in Scotland, won world silver and European bronze last year. His team are the only British competitors entered who are in the top three in the world and have a strong medal chance.
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“Rhona Martin, the 39-year old from Ayr in Scotland, captured the most unlikely multi-million sized late-night television audience of 2002 when she captained the women’s curling team to a gold medal. Since her heroics, she has suffered personal problems including the break-up of her marriage as well as significant debts and the sale of her house. She has shown little form in the meantime but, nevertheless, she is the title-holder and must have a chance.
“Looking elsewhere, Kristan Bromley, a 33-year old engineer from Colerne, has returned to form in his event, the skeleton bobsleigh. He has experienced a lean two years since winning the overall World Cup title, but he has been back on the World Cup podium in his last race before the games and offers a medium medal shot.
“Interestingly, in the women’s skeleton event, will be Bromley’s girlfriend, Shelley Rudman, a 25-year old supply teacher from Pewsey. Rudman is virtually a novice in the sport, taking it up four years ago during a have-a-go camp at the 2002 Winter Olympics. This season she has had her first full year in the World Cup with two fourth-place finishes. However, she has shown massive improvement in a short space of time and, with another little step forward, she could win a medal.
“In the women’s bobsleigh, Britain’s representatives are Jackie Davies, a 28-year old from Aldershot, and Nicola Minichiello, a 27-year old supply teacher from Sheffield. The pair were world silver medallists in 2005, but they have made a sluggish start to this season, despite a third place in their last race before the Games. They offer an outside chance of a medal.
“It would be unlikely for any other British competitor to win a medal, but then we shouldn’t forget Alain Baxter, who four years ago defied his ranking to claim bronze in the giant slalom and become the first Briton in history to win an Olympic skiing medal. However, due to the mistake of using an inhaler which has since been acknowledged as an inadvertent error, Baxter failed a drugs test and lost his medal. His comeback is a popular one among the British team. However his form this season has been dire and he needs to come from even further back to have any chance of success.”