Alex Coomber secured Britain's first medal at the Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City when she struck bronze yesterday in the skeleton bobsleigh.

And her mother Rosemary, back home in Rustington raised a glass of champagne and declared: "I'm so proud of my daughter."

Coomber, favourite to win gold, was edged into third place by Americans Tristan Gale and Lee Ann Parsley.

But Rosemary, 62, said: "I'm bursting with pride because Alex worked so hard to achieve what she's done and I'm convinced she would have won the gold medal if it hadn't snowed, because those conditions don't suit her, as she is so slight.

"I spoke to Alex last night and asked her if she was nervous and she told me she wasn't, but just wanted to do her best. It was nerve-wracking for me and I'm exhausted."

Rosemary revealed she decided not to make the trip across the Atlantic for health reasons, having suffered a heart attack 18 months ago.

She said: "I didn't want Alex to worry, because I could have been in an American hospital while she was trying to win a medal. I certainly don't want another heart attack.

"She had plenty of support because her two sisters, Ursula and Veronica, were there with their partners William and Nick, plus nephews Ollie and Edward. I sent Alex a good luck telegram and I will tell her how proud I am of her."

Rosemary wants her daughter to quit the sport. She said: "It's too dangerous and when I watch her it's terribly difficult to not be nervous for her, but she has always been very daring and likes a challenge.

"I hope she now settles back down to her job with the RAF and starts a family and stops this sport. She's has a good crack at it and she might waste four years and not get a better chance."

Coomber, who was hugged at the finish line by husband Eric, hinted she might carry on and thanked her family, friends and supporters for the backing they had given her.

She said: "The support was overwhelming. It was great to have my family there so I could see friendly faces."

Coomber, a former pupil at Our Lady of Sion school in Worthing, competed as an athlete for Worthing Harriers and was an RAF cadet in the local squadron.