Yorkshire stars set for Sochi

From Thirsk in the north to Sheffield in the south, the White Rose county will be represented by snowboarders and sliders, free skiers and biathletes in the Black Sea Resort in Russia from February 7.

The men and women of the Broad Acres make up nearly 20 per cent of the 56-strong British team bound for Sochi.

Here are the county’s Olympians.

Freeski

• JAMES WOODS (born: Sheffield, lives: Sheffield) (Ski Slopestyle)

• KATIE SUMMERHAYES (born: Sheffield, lives: Sheffield) (Ski Slopestyle)

• JAMES MACHON (born: Sheffield, lives: Sheffield) (Ski Halfpipe)

Snowboarding

• ZOE GILLINGS (born: Isle of Man, lives: Leeds) (Snowboard Cross)

• JAMIE NICHOLLS (born: Bradford, lives: Bradford) (Snowboard Slopestyle)

• DOM HARINGTON (born: Leeds, lives: London) (Snowboard Halfpipe)

• EMMA LONSDALE (born: Settle, Yorkshire, lives: Settle, Yorkshire) (Ski Halfpipe)

Skeleton

• KRISTAN BROMLEY (born: Waterfoot, Rossendale, lives: Sheffield)

• SHELLEY RUDMAN (born: Wiltshire, Lives: Sheffield)

Bobsleigh

• JOHN BAINES (born; Middlesborough lives; Topcliffe, Thirsk) (GBR2 4-man)

Biathlon

• LEE JACKSON (born; Stockton-on-Tees lives: Stockton-on-Tees and Italy)

Katie Summerhayes said: “I am so thrilled to have been selected to compete for Team GB at the Winter Olympics.

“This is a dream come true and I can’t believe it’s happening. The last two years have been hard for me, so I just want to thank everyone who has supported me and helped me to get here.

“I can’t wait to get to Sochi both to compete and support the rest of the team.”

John Baines said: “It’s absolutely amazing to be chosen to represent Team GB.

“Last week in Igls was true testament to the team, we all pulled together, coaches, staff and athletes to ensure we qualified two four-man sleds to go to the Winter Olympics.

“I am looking forward to putting on my race suit, standing at the top of the track and racing for Team GB at the Olympics – that has always been my dream.”

Kristan Bromley said: “I am incredibly proud to be selected for my fourth Olympic Winter Games; representing your country at the Olympics is the pinnacle of any sport and the stuff that dreams are made of.

“It makes it even more special that it is exactly 20 years to the month since the first time I tried skeleton - to have remained at the top of the sport for that time, gives me a wealth of experience to take to Sochi.”

But there was sad news for Brighouse snowboarder Katie Ormerod and Huddersfield cross-country skier Fiona Hughes who both missed out.

Hughes said: “I’m gutted. I gave it everything, and did my best, but it just wasn’t quite enough.”