World Cup bronze in Lillehammer shows British Bobsleigh four-man team are back on right track after injury-hit season

28 January 2024

The University of Bath-based British Bobsleigh squad claimed their first IBSF World Cup medals of an injury-disrupted 2023-24 season when they won a fantastic four-man bronze in Lillehammer, Norway.

Brad Hall, Leon Greenwood, Taylor Lawrence and Greg Cackett clocked a combined time of 1:40.15 to secure their first podium place in 11 months.

“To be back in the medals so soon after getting back in a sled, and with a month to go to the World Championships, puts us in a good place,” said driver Hall, who had back surgery in the autumn.

The race featured two British teams for the first time since the 2021-22 season as Adam Baird piloted his crew to 17th in a time of 1.41.51 on his World Cup debut. None of Baird’s squad of Ally Kay, Jens Hullah and Luka Williams had competed at this level before but all will have benefitted from the experience as they target a place at the 2026 Olympics.

Earlier in the day, British shot putt champion Adele Nicoll finished 11th in the Women’s Bobsleigh with Kya Placide as Nikki McSweeney and Willa Gibb placed 14th. Nicoll, Placide and Gibb were all making their World Cup debuts in the discipline.

Friday’s skeleton action saw Amelia Coltman finish a career-best sixth in the women’s race while Jacob Salisbury improved his PB by placing 10th in the men’s race, two places behind team-mate Matt Weston.

Athletes with the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association are based at the University of Bath, home to the UK’s only outdoor push-start track. They also do their strength and conditioning work at the Team Bath Sports Training Village. Click here to find out more.

Photo credit: IBSF

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