Following advice from the medical team 2009 World Champion Nicola Minichiello will not be competing on the FIBT World Cup circuit in 2010/2011.Nicola has had to undergo surgery on her left knee and to ensure full rehabilitation has been advised not to commence full training for several months.

The medical team undertook the decision to operate following an injury sustained preparing for the Vancouver Winter Olympic Games earlier this year.

British Bobsleigh Performance Director Gary Anderson states “Whilst this is a blow for us the most important thing is that Nicola returns to the sport fully fit and able to challenge for top spot on the podium. Sochi is the objective for Nic and we cannot afford to rush to get this wrong. During her rehabilitation Nicola has agreed to take on a mentoring and coaching role with our Winter Youth Olympic squad of athletes as they prepare for Innsbruck in 2012”.

Nicola Said;Obviously I am really disappointed at having to miss this season – but my goal has to be the Olympics in Sochi and a well structured and long rehabilitation programme and a well managed return to competition is key to my long term success. This year was the best time to get this operation done giving me a good length of time to get back to the top. I am excited about the opportunity to work with the Youth Olympic squad – keeping busy and having a focus will help me manage my frustration! 

For more information please contact Suzie Steadman at JCCM Ltd on 07795681678

Team Minichiello stood on top of the podium once more as they took gold in the Europa Cup race at St Moritz on  the 21st January.

Due to missing two World Cup races while Nic was receiving treatment for her eye, the team squeezed in the Europa Cup as an extra race to give them all important points to improve their ranking going into the Olympics.

Sitting in 3rd behind the two German teams after the first run the girls put in a brilliant second run to move into the lead, eventually taking gold by 0.08 seconds ahead of Schneiderheinze-Stöckel of Germany.

Our latest World Cup race in St. Moritz ended with a seventh place which equals our highest place finish in the season so far.  However, the biggest story from the race day seems to have been the race suit incident.  Gill's aerodynamic skin suit suffered a mishap on the second run leaving the whole world to see the the power of a bobsleigh butt.

Thankfully Gill's derriere was in pristine condition as a result of team physio Sarah McDowell's intensive glute workouts. Since the clothing malfunction there has been renewed motivation and enthusiasm within the team for these daily exercies to improve our buttocks in relation to both appearance and function!

Gill commented, 'As an athlete, you are used to dealing with the unexpected and this is just one more thing to add to the list.  If it made us go faster I'd do it every time!'

On the 26th January, the team headed to Somerset House in Central London for the British Olympic Association  team announcement and Adidas launch of the Team GB kit for the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games.

It was our first chance to pose in our Team GB Adidas Olympic Winter Kit.