Teenager set for ultimate test at Winter Olympics (From St Albans & Harpenden Review)

St Albans sprinter set for Winter Olympics challenge

12:10pm Thursday 12th January 2012 in Local Sport

St Albans teenager Frances Slater has vowed to take the rough with the smooth as her switch from athletics to bobsleigh gets set for the ultimate test at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics in Austria.

The 17-year-old was only introduced to the sport back in June but has already made swift progress earning selection last month for the 24-strong British team bound for Innsbruck.

There she will act as a brakewoman for Kirsten Emery with the women’s bobsleigh event scheduled for January 22 before remaining in Austria for the Junior World Championships.

And, having already experienced both the beauty and beast of bobsleigh, Herts Phoenix sprinter Slater is determined to prove she is in it for the long haul in Innsbruck.

“I was originally a sprinter - I have been sprinting for the past four years and used to train with Jodie Williams,” said Slater - a pupil at Oaklands College in St Albans.

“But then I saw it on television and heard about the successes we have had in Britain and I had horse ridden before and I really wanted to give it a go.

“Now that I have done that I couldn’t go back to running in a straight line and having had a crash as well I know what to be expecting.

“I watched crashes on YouTube but I have complete faith in my driver. The first time I crashed I was very nervous getting back in but there was no hesitation.

“Kirsten is a very experienced driver and we are both quite quick and push well and have achieved quite quick times and hopefully that can continue.”

Slater and Emery will be one of two female British bobsleigh pairs at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympics with Mica McNeil and Jazmin Sawyers also earning selection.

Slater has been travelling on the continent since taking up the sport and, despite the event being the first of its kind, she insists she won’t be heading into the unknown.

“We have been sledding and pushing in Austria, Germany and Latvia along with work at the push track in Bath,” she added.

“We know the other nations like the Dutch and Germans, Italians and Austrians are going to be strong but we are going out there with the mindset to win.”

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport National Governing Bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. www.olympics.org.uk