Welsh bobsleigh athlete Adele Nicoll will become the first British female to compete in the monobob at the 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan-Cortina this month.

Nicoll, who is from Welshpool, is Britain first representative in an event that made its debut at the last edition of the Games in 2022 in Beijing.

The Welshwoman was a travelling reserve for that competition in the two-woman event but will now take centre stage in both the two-woman and monobob events.

The Welsh connection to bobsleigh does not stop there, with Cardiff’s Kya Placide a travelling reserve in the team as well.

Nicoll, who is a former British champion in the shot put, stars alongside former GB sprinter Ashleigh Nelson, bringing track and field experience to the Team GB bobsleigh team.

 

Nicoll may well still compete in the shot put in 2026 at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

Writing on Instagram confirming the news that she will be competing this month’s games, Nicoll spoke of her Welsh background and the journey she has been on to get to the Games.

“I’m going to the Olympic Games,” Nicoll posted. “All the way from a small, rural town in Mid Wales to the biggest sporting stage in the world.

“I’m incredibly proud to be selected to represent Team GB for the Milano Cortina Olympic Winter Games, in the 2-woman event and making history as the first ever athlete to represent Great Britain in the monobob event at an Olympic Games.

“Growing up in Welshpool, in such a rural area, making history was never something I thought was even a possibility.”

Nicoll also praised all those who have played their part in her reaching the pinnacle of the sport.

“Despite the lack of visible opportunities, I’ve been training since I was 9,” Nicoll explained.

“Hours spent on the playing fields and running up to Powys Castle, with my dad on his bike next to me, telling me to keep on going.

“At times it seemed too far out of reach, but my family, P.E. teachers & sponsors encouraged me to see the dream and never let it go. From the bottom of my heart, Thank you.”

The 29-year-old also noted the struggles that she has had to overcome in her professional career to reach the Games, revealing that she felt ‘empty’ at times.

“2019-2021 was a rough patch of life. 2021 was the year that saved me. I fell in love with Bobsleigh,” Nicoll added.

“But in 2022, after being chosen as the alternate for the Beijing Olympics, I felt lower than ever. Which is insane because within 16 months I’d turned my life around, lost 20kg body weight, learned a brand-new skill and played a big part in qualifying Team GB for that Olympic Games.

“Yet still, I felt empty. Once I’d processed my emotions, I felt a drive like no other. This is a message to all of my friends who have either been chosen as the alternate for Milano Cortina or narrowly missed out on qualifying. YOU ARE ENOUGH.

“Every decision has brought me here. Even when things didn’t make sense, I had faith in things working out. I hope this inspires other people in Wales and similar places to push past the limits and constraints put on them by environments and people who haven’t done what they dream of doing.

“Your start doesn’t define your finish.”

📸Wikimedia Commons

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