Welshpool’s Olympic bobsleigh pioneer Adele Nicoll is already turning her focus to the two-woman event after a disappointing finish to her historic monobob debut at the Milan–Cortina Winter Olympics.
The 29-year-old, Britain’s first female monobob Olympian, had been in a strong position after three composed runs at the Cortina Sliding Centre. She climbed the standings with improving times in heats two and three, sitting as high as 11th overnight and within touching distance of the top 10.
Drawing on experience from two World Championship campaigns and a season disrupted by serious injury, Nicoll looked settled and technically assured through those opening runs, staying in touch with the sport’s elite.
But a ragged final descent proved costly. Nicoll later described it as “probably the worst run I’ve ever had in my life”, admitting she felt “speechless” and “in shock” at how quickly her hopes slipped away, eventually finishing 18th.
She was candid about her disappointment, saying she felt she had “let everyone down”, but pointed to her earlier performances as proof of her true potential.
“That last run is just not reflective of my capabilities as a pilot,” Nicoll said.
“It was probably the worst run I’ve ever had in my life, which is not ideal in an Olympic Games.
“I delivered three solid runs, but it shows you need four strong runs to maintain your position. I was in 11th going into the final run and maybe my lack of experience showed. My best World Cup result is 12th, so to be 11th at the Olympics was a big deal for me.
“I am incredibly disappointed and I feel like I’ve let everyone down, but I’ll process this and take it with me into the two-woman. The monobob was never my strongest event coming into the Games. The two-woman has always been our stronger discipline, and I’m proud of the three solid runs I put down.”
Nicoll will now team up with former GB sprinter Ashleigh Nelson in the two-woman competition — the event she believes offers her best chance to make amends in Cortina.
