Team GB Bobsleigh bid for Olympics 2026

John Stanbridge, pictured right, gives an update of their journey thus far, as the team look to secure a place in the Olympics 2026:

"The team and I are back in the UK after an amazing experience at the World Championships in Winterberg, Germany. We achieved a place of 23^rd out of 28 sleds in the competitive world class field. I have a bit of a love/hate relationship with the track at Winterberg, our first races for GB started here and didn’t quite go to plan. It was amazing to come back and show how far we have developed since that first season back in 2020. Outside the top 20 by only a few tenths and finishing strong with a 19^th place run on our last heat. Although I am a little disappointed with the result as I expected to be inside the top 20, I remind myself that I’m lucky to just be around and the season we had this year has surpassed everyone’s expectations. Attending a World championships is a serious marker for the team to show the BBSA and UK Sport that we are a real contender in achieving Olympic qualification in 2026.

With the support of tlmNexus the team has continued to grow and improve year on year and although I’m back home now, returning to the normality of RAF work life, I must focus and look towards next season and the opportunities that should become available following our results this season. No rest for the wicked, as they say.

As a team, we need to raise further funding and sponsorship heading into the 2024/25 season, with equipment being a big factor for the team’s success in 4-man moving forward. Post Christmas, we made a rental investment into a competitive 4-man sled which ensured we secured our highest 4-man result of 9^th on the European cup. Investment into a newer competitive 4-man sled is in the region between £30-40k.

We have had plenty of exposure throughout the RAF this season with 3 RAF news articles, 2 BBC Shropshire radio interviews, Articles on the RAF Intranet page and RAF Cosford apprentice magazine alongside our linked in social media that has seen nearly 60,000 impressions over the past 12 months.

The success and result this season should also qualify myself for the RAF Elite athlete program, allowing me to concentrate on improving my athletic potential and ensuring the team is ready for the games in 2026. This will also open more opportunities for engagement with yourself and other sponsors.

It’s been amazing to have the support of tlmNexus on this journey so far,  as we look to secure an Olympic games spot in 2026."