Rotherham rooting for Winter Olympic hopefuls

Olympic medallist Shelley Rudman, fiancé and triple-crown holder Kristan Bromley and world champion Nicola Minichiello were buoyed by the message as they counted down to the start of the Games at the weekend - when Shelley carried the Union Flag at the opening ceremony.

Rotherham Council Leader Cllr Roger Stone and Mayor Shaukat Ali told them: "We are very proud of your connection with South Yorkshire and, in our case especially, with Bromley Technologies in Rotherham.

"But even without the Rotherham connection we feel you deserve the very best in Vancouver, as you have given such commitment, trained so hard and come through so much.

"So, this is to say congratulations on being selected and the very best of luck to you and all the team, on behalf of the people and Borough Council of Rotherham. We shall be cheering you on - and we know we shan't be the only ones in Rotherham!"

The two civic leaders also urged people across South Yorkshire and beyond to get on the Team GB website to post supportive messages for the three athletes.

The trio are supported by Bromley Technologies, formed by engineering brothers Kristan and Richard and based at the Advanced Manufacturing Park (AMP). The company specialises in athlete-focused engineering technology, with its state-of-the-art test facility that helps finesse sporting talent.

Bromley's chief operating officer, Mike Maddock, said: "The guys were absolutely delighted to receive the message from the Council Leader and the Mayor. They're on the practice runs now and it gave them a nice boost to know that people are thinking of them, and they wanted to say thank you to the people of Rotherham.

"Bobsleigh and bob skeleton aren't very well known in the UK. The more profile we can give our athletes, and the more the public know we are one of the world's top winter-sport nations in those, the better. So I would back the leader and mayor and say to people - please support Shelley, Kristan and Nicola over the next two weeks."

The association with Bromley has paid off. All three Sheffield-based athletes are at the top of their class in their own disciplines.

Shelley won silver at the last Winter Olympics in Turin and Kristan is the only athlete ever to win skeleton's triple crown - the World Cup, World Championship and the European Championship all in one year.

In the latest World Cup events, in the USA and Europe, Shelley won two golds, silver and bronze and Kristan silver and bronze.

Nicola and her brakewoman Gillian Cooke are the UK's top two-woman bobsleigh athletes and were world champions in 2009 - Britain's first major triumph in the sport for more than 40 years.

The Winter Olympics started on Friday. Shelley and Kristan race on February 18 and 19, Nicola on February 23 and 24.

Get behind our local heroes! Rotherham people - and others - can now register their support for our athletes on the Team GB Vancouver 2010 website.