BRUCE TASKER, born in Manorbier will be the brakeman for the UK’s Team 1 bobsleigh team at the Sochi Winter Olympics, which start on Friday, February 7.

He attended Greenhill School in Tenby before leaving for the University of Bath to study Biochemistry. It was during his school years that Bruce developed a love for sport, most notably sprinting. After winning the county Championships he was invited to join Carmarthen Harriers whom Bruce represented from the age of 11 for over a decade. Initially competing over 100m, 200m and long jump, Bruce enjoyed most success in the 400m discipline, winning the British indoor Championships 3 years in a row over the under 17 and under 20 age groups and setting a number of Welsh records along the way.

Bruce represented Wales at numerous international competitions, and finally achieved his GB vest at the domestic international event in Loughborough in 2006. At school Bruce also enjoyed playing football and basketball, but at university he focussed solely on athletics and trained throughout his studies. He graduated with upper second class honours in 2008 and persisted with athletics for another 18 months after deciding to remain in Bath. During this time he switched to the 200m sprint but after a lone highlight of an U23 British bronze medal, Bruce felt like his time in athletics was coming to an end.

Bruce was encouraged to try out for bobsleigh in 2010 by the current top GB driver John Jackson. All the physical attributes he gained from years of sprint training helped him pass selection and a week later found himself ‘on ice’ in Italy and competing in the Europa Cup. A 6th place podium finish in his debut race left Bruce hooked on the sport and he went on to race on the World Cup circuit and the World Championships later on that season.

The summer of 2011 saw the selection of Stu Benson and Joel Fearon, who together with John Jackson and Bruce formed the 4man quartet for the subsequent winter season. After a slow start, the results gradually improved as the team developed as a crew and the season culminated in a fantastic 10th place at the World Championships. The 2012-13 season saw a dramatic improvement in performance, with the team achieving multiple podium finishes; most notably 5th place at both the World Championships and the Olympic test event in Sochi. These results earned the team funding from the National Lottery enabling them to train full time at Bath.

This season Britain’s bobsleigh performances throughout the FIBT World Cup Series has successfully earned Team GB four qualification spots for the bobsleigh events in Sochi. These include two men’s teams in the four-man bobsleigh, as well as one team in both the men and women’s two-man bobsleigh.

Team GB have won four medals in bobsleigh since the sports introduction at Chamonix in 1924, one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Most recent of those was at Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics in the four-man event, where Sean Olsson, Dean Ward, Courtney Rumbolt and Paul Attwood finishes; most notably 5th place at both the World Championships and the Olympic test event in Sochi. These results earned the team funding from the National Lottery enabling them to train full time at Bath.

This season Britain’s bobsleigh performances throughout the FIBT World Cup Series has successfully earned Team GB four qualification spots for the bobsleigh events in Sochi. These include two men’s teams in the four-man bobsleigh, as well as one team in both the men and women’s two-man bobsleigh.

Team GB have won four medals in bobsleigh since the sports introduction at Chamonix in 1924, one gold, one silver and two bronze medals. Most recent of those was at Nagano 1998 Winter Olympics in the four-man event, where Sean Olsson, Dean Ward, Courtney Rumbolt and Paul Attwood won a joint-bronze medal after they achieved the same combined run score as France. The Sochi Games also marks fifty years since Tony Nash and Robin Dixon won gold in the two man bob at the Innsbruck 1964 Winter Olympics.

Bruce said: “I’m very honoured to be selected for the Winter Olympics in Sochi. It has been a long and tough journey for which there are many people to thank. It has been difficult keeping the excitement at bay but now we have qualified and been selected I can really begin to enjoy focussing on performing my best at the Olympic Winter Games.”