Homepage

We use cookies to track and analyse visitors to our website

These cookies help make the website usable by enabling basic functions like page navigation. They are necessary for our website to function and cannot be switched off.
These cookies gather information to understand how visitors interact with the website, such as how many people are using our website of which pages are popular to help us improve user experience. Switching off these cookies will mean that we cannot gather information to improve the user experience.
These cookies enable the website to provide enhanced functionality and personalisation. They may be set by us or by a third party provider whose services we have added to our website. Switching off these cookies mean that areas of our website cannot work properly.

Cookies are small text files that can be used by websites to make a user's experience more efficient.

The law states that we can store cookies on your device if they are strictly necessary for the operation of this site.

For all other types of cookies we need your permission.

This site uses different types of cookies. Some cookies are placed by third party services that appear on our pages.

You can at any time change or withdraw your consent from the Cookie Declaration on our website.

Learn more about who we are, how you can contact us and how we process personal data in our Privacy Policy.

Skip navigation
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
  • About us
    • Our Directors team
    • Our Board and panels
    • Strategic plan 2021-31
    • Annual reports
    • Our funders
    • Who we work with
    • Tenders
    • Contact us
  • Our work
    • Investing in sport
    • Investing in events
    • Powering positive change and social impact
    • International relations
    • Learning and development
    • Protecting and Transforming Olympic and Paralympic sport
    • Leadership and governance
    • Coaching
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
    Olympic sports
    • Archery
    • Aquatics
    • Artistic Swimming
    • Athletics
    • Badminton
    • Baseball
    • Basketball
    • Bobsleigh
    • Boxing (Amateur)
    • View all
    Paralympic sports
    • Boccia
    • Goalball
    • Para-Archery
    • Para-Athletics
    • Para-Badminton
    • Para-Canoe
    • Para-Climbing
    • Para-Cycling
    • Para-Equestrian Dressage
    • View all
  • Resources
    • A Code for Sports Governance
    • Organisational Health
    • Para performance strategic framework
    • Board minutes
    • Complaints and whistleblowing
    • Eligibility
    • Fraud, corruption and bribery
    • Transparency and open data
    • HR policy templates
    • Pregnancy guidance
    • Reports and research
    • The Whyte Review
  • Jobs in sport
    • Working at UK Sport
    • Explore career pathways
    • Find jobs in sport
    • Advertise sport jobs
Popular content on our site
Prepare to “Find Your Greatness” as search for UK's future athletes gets underway The National Lottery operator Allwyn launches ChangeMakers fund for athletes as they make a difference back home Breadth of success targeted as British Olympic and Paralympic performance aspirations confirmed for Paris Investing in sport Strategic plan 2021-31
News

Ice challenge ahead for Power2Podium hopefuls

Published 7 November 2014

The season has almost begun for Great Britain’s top winter athletes, yet for 19 Olympic hopefuls, this month will be the first time they take to the ice in a bid to prove they have what it takes to make it to the podium.

UK Sport’s Power2Podium was a nationwide search for athletes with the potential to become Olympic champions in the sport of skeleton, and following four intense phases of testing, less than 20 now remain.

Throughout November and December the nine female and ten male athletes will travel to Lillehammer in Norway to be tested on the ice by British Skeleton coaches and experts from the English Institute of Sport.

Performance Pathway Scientist Lizzie Wraith, who has been working with the group, explained: "They've performed well so far, but seeing how they cope with the challenging conditions on the ice will be vital; both for the athletes to see if they can adapt to the environment and for us to see how quickly they can learn a complex new skill and how well they can handle the pressure."

One of those hoping to make it through will be 21-year-old Christopher Gray, who previously competed in gymnastics and football, and was attracted to the campaign after enjoying watching Sochi 2014.

He said: “After Sochi I looked online to see if there was anything I could try and the thrill of skeleton appealed to me, it seemed like something really different.

“The best thing we’ve done so far is the push track at Bath, which was a great experience. Keeping up with the exercises each day has been tough, but I’m enjoying the challenge.”

Madelaine Smith, 19, has a background in athletics and swimming and is looking forward to getting on the ice for the first time.

“I might only have this opportunity once so I’ve got to go out there and enjoy it and try and have a good two weeks,” she said.

“I’ve seen a video of Lizzy Yarnold and I was quite relieved that she didn’t do particularly well on her first ice run!”

Wraith added: “It is fantastic to see the progress these athletes have made and the depth of talent within the group is impressive. However, this two week confirmation camp will be the real test for them.”

Previous UK Sport talent campaigns have uncovered Olympic champions Helen Glover and Lizzy Yarnold, as well as Olympic bronze medallist Lutalo Muhammad.
 

Share
  • X
  • LinkedIn
  • Email

News

Tess Howard standing in front of a banner saying
ChangeMakers grant athletes announced
30 April 2025
Imogen Grant rowing in the middle of the image, rowing away from camera. A coach stands on the dock to the right hand side.
Sustainability Accelerator Programme
16 April 2025
The attendees of the Women in Coaching event with standing in front of a building.
First Annual Women in Coaching Assembly convenes in Birmingham
10 April 2025
Looking to work in sport?
Find or advertise sports jobs in the UK
Search now
Our funders
  • Funded by UK Government
  • TNL partners
Who we work with
  • British Olympic Association
  • Paralympics GB
  • Logo of the UK Sports Institute
  • Sport England
  • Sport Northern Ireland
  • Sport Wales
  • Sport Scotland
  • Logo of the British Elite Athletes Association
  • Logo for UK Coaching
  • Logo of Sport Resolutions
Sitelogo
Sitemap
  • Homepage
  • About us
  • Our work
  • Events
  • News
  • Sports
  • Resources
  • Jobs in sport
  • Website terms and privacy policy
  • Editorial policy
  • Cookies policy
  • Accessibility
  • Freedom of Information
  • Welsh language scheme
  • FAQs
Contact
UK Sport
6th Floor
10 South Colonnade
London
E14 4PU
E: info@uksport.gov.uk
T: +44 (0) 20 7211 5100
Follow us
Twitter Youtube Instagram LinkedIn

© Copyright UK Sport 2025