Endacott, a 30-year-old teaching assistant from Plymouth, told insidethegames that she had become aware of the possibility of switching sports after she had returned from Delhi and began a conversation on Twitter with bobsleigh performance director Gary Anderson, who took over his current role after an extensive background in athletics coaching.

"I was saying how I was running in ice and snow at Broadfields, my training venue, and when Gary tweeted a message to me we had a bit of banter going back and forth," she said.

"In the end I said I thought I should try out the bobsleigh and Gary replied that he thought I could do."

After undergoing preliminary trials at the dry run on the site of the University of Bath, Endacott came up to scratch and was invited to join a squad that includes several others with an international track and field background.

Endacott will be hoping to have a similar experience switching from athletics to bobsleigh as Gillian Cooke (pictured left) did.

Having represented Scotland at sprints, the pole vault and the long jump, as well as competing in two Commonwealth Games, Cooke was a world champion within six months of taking up her new sport as she teamed up with driver Nicola Minichiello (pictured right) to win the title in 2009.

Although she is starting a new sporting career, Endacott still intends to maintain her track career at least until the London 2012 Games.

"We have managed to work it so the two schedules won't interfere with each other next year," she said.

"I am already targeting the UK indoor trials and I will still try to make London 2012.

"But as from 2013 I will be giving bobsleigh 110 per cent of my attention."

According to Endacott, Linford Christie, who coached her to her Commonwealth medals, was "very supportive" of her move.

"He told me to go for it," she said.

Anderson said he knew Endacott would be an ideal choice for the role of brakewoman to a bobsleigh driver because she was "as hard as nails", adding: "With all due respect to a great athlete, I asked her if she was likely to medal at London 2012 - probably not.

"But she has a real chance of getting onto the podium in bobsleigh at the Sochi 2014 Games."

Endacott will decide with Anderson this week where she will be making her first appearance on the ice.

To read a full interview with Endacott click here. 

Contact the writer of this story at [email protected]


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