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GB's Brad Hall and Nick Gleeson start their two man bobsleigh at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics.

They have been identified as a medal hope following strong results in this season’s World Cup, with Hall earning three medals each in two and four-man events. Hall also clocked the second fastest time in October’s test event in Yangqing. Performances since returning to China have been a mixed bag; he was off the pace in the first two training runs but gradually improved and on Saturday recorded the second fastest time of the day (one minute dead).

Germany’s Francesco Friedrich arrived in Yanqing as overwhelming favourite, having won 16 of his last 17 international competitions in two-man. While he topped the timesheet in the third training heat, he’s otherwise been slightly off the pace. Canada’s Justin Kripps, who shared gold with Friedrich in a 2018 dead heat, has produced the fastest time to date (59.83) while another German, Johannes Lochner, has also impressed – he was the only pilot to dip under a minute (59.85) in training on Saturday. So often overshadowed by Friedrich, could this be the moment for the 31-year-old to step out of his shadow?

Meanwhile, enjoying their moment in the limelight will be Jamaican duo Shanwayne Stephens and Nimroy Turgott. Pilot Stephens, based in Peterborough, is a Lance Corporal in the RAF. He and Turgott will also form part of Jamaica’s four-man team.