A SUSSEX man is tipped as one of Team GB's best bets for success at this year's Winter Olympics.

Out of Britain's squad of 50 athletes competing in the Games in Beijing next month, bobsleigher Brad Hall from Crawley is anticipated to be one of those taking home a medal.

Despite an absence of significant UK Sport funding, 31-year-old Brad has enjoyed a near-miraculous World Cup bobsleigh campaign, claiming a total of six podium places across two and four-man disciplines and finds himself in a strong position to emulate the retrospective bronze awarded to Team GB's squad from the Sochi Winter Olympics in 2014.

After a strong season so far, Brad - who will be piloting the team in both disciplines - said he and his team are "full of confidence".

He said: "We've had a great season so far and we're hoping to carry that momentum into the Games.

"We said at the start of the season that we wanted to be competing with the best in the world on a consistent basis and we've shown that we can do that. "The boys have regularly been among the best starters in the world, too, and we're heading to Beijing full of confidence.

"We're looking forward to potentially getting a medal in both two and four-man and it would be great for us and all our supporters to know that we've done what we set out to do."

Beijing will be Brad's second Winter Olympics, having also competed in the Pyeongchang Games in South Korea in 2018.

After a disappointing result in that Games, Brad said it was "very frustrating going into a race when you know your equipment isn't good enough", but that this year Team GB's equipment is "at least on a par with the rest of the world".

His journey to Beijing started with athletics but, after getting several injuries, he sought a new sport to try.

"I was quite a big powerful guy and quick off the mark, so a lot of people were suggesting I try bobsleigh," he said.

After being selected for a UK Sport Talent ID programme, Brad was initially sent to skeleton, but kept smashing around the corners. After that, he was sent off to bobsleigh, and has fallen in love with the sport ever since.

Brad said: "It is always great to represent Team GB at an Olympic Games and know that, with all the hard work, we've finally reached our goal and hopefully we end up with some medals."

The Winter Olympics in Beijing kick off from next Friday (February 4) and will mark the first time that a city has hosted both the Summer and Winter Olympic Games.

The final of the two-man bobsleigh is due to take place on February 15, with the four-man final on February 20.

Team GB's other Olympic hopefuls going into the Games include freestyle skiing star Kirsty Muir, snowboarder Charlotte Bankes and skier Dave Ryding.

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