Female bobsleigh world champions Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke are among the 43 British athletes selected to head to Vancouver to take part in the 2010 Winter Olympics.The British Olympic Association has just named another 13 stars, taking the total number to 43 across ten disciplines, with the men's bobsleigh and skeleton athletes to be announced on January 29th.
Alongside the world champions, snowboard cross medal hope Zoe Gillings is included, as is leading British female alpine skier Chemmy Alcott.
Team GB chef de mission Andy Hunt has set the team a target of claiming three medals in Vancouver, which would match their best return from the Winter Olympics since 1936.
However, he feels that the mixture of talent selected has the capabilities of reaching this milestone.
Hunt said: "Within this group of athletes, we have a wonderful mixture of potential and experience. There are world champions, but also teenagers who may not truly reach their peak until the 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
"It's an exciting team - the best of British in winter sport - and we're doing everything we can to allow these athletes to fulfil their potential and achieve a personal best for Team GB in Vancouver."
Minichello, who is the driver of the bobsleigh, is simply happy to be competing after undergoing two rounds of laser surgery in a bid to correct the loss of 80 per cent of the sight in her left eye.
Partner Cooke has also done her bit to drum up interest in the event by becoming a huge YouTube hit in recent weeks after splitting her race suit and revealing her bottom on the start line of a World Cup event in St Moritz, Switzerland.
However, the matter had a positive impact on the duo as they posted the seventh fastest time to gain their best result of the season.
Meanwhile, AJ Rose, who finished in 16th position in the luge at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, has also made the squad after suffering hip and ligament injuries in a high-speed crash at the Olympic Whistler course.
He added: "I learned a lot four years ago and feel I've improved as an athlete, and that I've picked up a lot of valuable experience.
"The track in Whistler is a monster but it's a fantastic challenge. Despite that crash, I can't wait to get back to Canada and get back to action."
However, there is no spot in the team for slalom specialist Noel Baxter, who has suffered from a dip in form of late and misses out on a third Winter Olympic appearance.
The opening ceremony gets underway on February 12th, with 86 events taking place overall across seven sports.
Written by Chris Smith