Welsh bobsleigh duo target Winter Olympics history

Welsh bobsleigh hopefuls Adele Nicoll and Kya Placide have their sights firmly set on the 2026 Winter Olympics, which will be staged in Milan and Cortina d'Ampezzo from 6 to 22 February.

Nicoll, 28, from Welshpool, and Placide, 20, from Cardiff, are relative newcomers to the sport but have already made an impression on the Team GB setup.

Placide's bobsleigh journey began by chance in May 2023 while training on an athletics track.

"An athlete who was already involved suggested I'd be good at it because I looked powerful and fast," she says.

"I only really knew about bobsleigh from Cool Runnings, I didn't even realise Great Britain had a team. After attending testing days in Bath, before I knew it, I was on the ice for my first season."

The pair recently attended a Team GB media day in Edinburgh as part of their preparations.

"We're here at the Team GB Winter Olympics summit event," says Nicoll. "It's really helping us get into the spirit and mindset for the Games."

Both athletes have transitioned from other sports and credit their diverse sporting backgrounds for giving them an edge on the ice.

"I'm the biggest advocate for athletics as a foundation for any sport," said Nicoll, who also competed at the 2022 Commonwealth Games in the shot put.

"It's an individual sport, so you learn the discipline to turn up every day even when you're training alone. You also learn to deal with losses, which is huge."

Placide, who has a background in both gymnastics and athletics, added: "The demands of gymnastics and athletics have really helped me excel in bobsleigh."

Eyes on qualification

To secure their spot in the two-person bobsleigh event in Italy, Nicoll and Placide must meet strict performance standards, compete on multiple tracks, and earn enough points to stay high in the world rankings.

With a crucial season ahead, Nicoll knows exactly what is at stake.

"The World Cup this year will be huge for us, we're giving ourselves a fighting chance of being on the podium in every single race," she said.

"I've improved massively with my driving over the last couple of years. I feel like I've really developed the ability to give myself feedback and make those fine adjustments that make the difference at this level."

She insists the pair will do everything they can to achieve their Olympic dream.

"We're leaving no stone unturned to put ourselves in that position," she added. "It's going to take a lot of hard work and 100% focus from everyone involved, but we believe in what we're doing."

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Making history for Wales

Both athletes have made no secret of their ambition to make history by achieving Britain's best-ever finish by a female bobsleigh team.

For Nicoll, the pride in her roots is clear.

"I can't describe how proud I am to come from such a small Welsh town," said the Welshpool native.

"I didn't grow up with a silver spoon in my mouth but I had parents who were unwavering in their support. We didn't have the best of everything, but they made sure we did the best with what we had.

"To go to the Olympic Games and represent Great Britain is amazing, but I'll also be representing Welshpool, my family, and everyone who's helped me along the way."

Placide has dreamed of the Olympics since she was a child even if bobsleigh was never on the radar back then.

"I remember telling my mum, 'I'm going to the Olympics in gymnastics', she laughed.

"Then that didn't happen, so when I moved to athletics, I said it again, 'I'm going to the Olympics in athletics'. And now here I am in bobsleigh, with a real chance of going to the Games. It's just mental when I think about it."

With their determination and belief, the Welsh pair hope their journey will inspire others to chase their own dreams, no matter how unlikely they may seem.