TEAM GB VANCOUVER 2010 ATHLETES ANNOUNCED

by James Skitt - 29.01.10

The British Olympic Association (BOA) have completed their selection of Team GB for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games today with confirmation of the final four athletes to have been selected for Skeleton.

Fifty two athletes will represent Great Britain across six sports and eleven disciplines in Canada next month, the largest team sent to a Winter Games since Albertville in 1992.

The English Institute of Sport (EIS) works across a number of Winter Olympic and Paralympic sports delivering sport science and medicine support services as part of National Governing Bodies’ performance programmes and has provided support services to a range of sports ahead of these Vancouver Games.

Team GB Chef de Mission Andy Hunt said: “Within this group of athletes, we have a wonderful mixture of potential and experience. There are World Champions, but also teenagers who may not truly reach their peak until the 2018 Olympic Winter Games. It’s an exciting team – the best of British in winter sport - and we’re doing everything we can to allow these athletes to fulfil their potential and achieve a personal best for Team GB in Vancouver.”

Shelly Rudman was Team GB’s only medallist in Turin four years ago with a silver medal in Skeleton, and they will be hoping for further success this time after UK Sport set a target of three medals earlier this week.

Rudman, who will be competing again in Vancouver following her selection today, said: “I have very special memories of the Olympic Winter Games, and the silver medal I won in Turin four years ago was the greatest moment I’ve had in sport. But my appetite to succeed remains as strong as ever, and I’m going to Whistler hoping that it all comes together and that luck is on my side.

“My form this season has been good, and I’ve been a regular visitor to the podium. The challenge now is to maintain that momentum and focus it at exactly the right time.”

To see details of all the selections and athletes selected for Vancouver visit the BOA website here

Photography © Getty Images