Olympic Medal 2012
LEEDS-FUNDED BOBSLEIGH TEAM ENJOY SUCCESS AT WINTER YOUTH OLYMPIC GAMES
Team GB, supported by two local businesses, is celebrating triumph with a silver medal in bobsleigh at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in Austria, Britain’s third medal success at the Games.
The Great Britain bobsleigh team, co-sponsored by Leeds-based Maria Mallaband Care Group (MMCG) and Henderson Insurance Brokers, achieved second spot at the event held on Sunday 22nd January at Innsbruck.
Mica McNeill, 19, driving the bobsleigh, was ably supported by brake woman Jazmin Sawyers, 17, as Team GB claimed silver medals on the podium with a finish time of 1:51.95, just +0.33 behind the gold medallists from the Netherlands.
The British team recorded the best result in bobsleigh since Nash and Dixon won gold 48 years ago in the 1964 Winter Olympics, also in Innsbruck.
Great Britain was represented at the Winter Youth Olympic Games by 24 athletes competing in 10 different sports, in addition to bobsleigh – alpine skiing, biathlon, cross country skiing, curling, figure skating, freestyle skating, ice hockey, short track speed skating and snowboarding.
Philip Burgan, Chairman and founder of Maria Mallaband Care Group, said: "As proud supporters of Team GB in the bobsleigh, everyone at MMCG is delighted to see them claim Great Britain’s third Olympic medal at the games. Great Britain has waited a very long time to claim a medal in bobsleigh so it’s a tremendous achievement for Mica and Jazmin and we wish them every success in the future."
The event saw over 1,000 athletes aged 14 to 19 from 70 countries participating in 63 events across 15 sports.
ENDS
For further information contact Robert Stebbings (Robert.Stebbings@ptarmiganbp.co.uk) or Sandrine Powell (Sandrine.Powell@ptarmiganbp.co.uk) on 0113 237 2821