The organisation has held the first of its talent identification and talent transfer days at the University of Bath, attended by 50 prospective athletes.

They included Ania and hammer thrower Samantha Hynes. 

All the athletes attending were put through various rigorous performance tests to identify who could progress onto becoming potential world class bobsleigh athletes and Olympic medallists.

British Bobsleigh performance director Gary Anderson realises the need to enhance the squad that Britain currently has available and there is a great opportunity to fast track athletes from another sport to bobsleigh provided they possess the right physical capabilities.

He said: "There are a number of examples of where talented track & field athletes have made a successful transition into our sport - our own Gillian Cooke went from being a long jumper to world bobsleigh champion in a relatively short space of time.

"If we can identify these athletes now and fast track them onto our programme, there is no reason why we cannot see some of them competing in Sochi in 2014.

"It is our intention to host a further three talent days this spring - throughout the country - in order to cover as many athletes as possible.

"Our mission is to be the best prepared team - physically, mentally and tactically - ever to leave the UK for an Olympic Winter Games."

As part of its Olympic preparations British Bobsleigh have taken the step in making its programme "full-time" and athletes are expected to be in training on a full-time basis with the backing of funding from UK Sport.

Other athletes that previously tested and are now part of the talent identification programme include double Olympic sprinter Paul Brizzel, Scottish 60 metres indoors champion Stu Benson and Commonwealth 100m silver medallist Katherine Endacott.