Eye problems and bare backsides fail to deter Britain's bobsleigh hopefuls

The British Olympic Association has announced its biggest team for a winter Olympics since Albertville in 1992. A total of 52 athletes from 11 disciplines will travel to Vancouver next month – 43 names have already been announced, with a further nine to be revealed on Friday. The Games are expected to be Britain's most successful winter Olympics in decades with at least five events earmarked for British podium success, although the BOA today refused to set a medal target for the team. The bobsleigh world champions, Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke, are hotly tipped to take the gold medal on the Whistler course, although an eye problem for Minichiello – the driver – could threaten their hopes. The 31-year-old will undergo laser surgery tomorrow on her left eye for the third and final time since losing 80% of her sight just before Christmas. Originally diagnosed as retinopathy – which could have been permanent – Minichiello is upbeat about the situation. "You can only have so many surgeries in one go, so this is the last one to release the last bit of fluid," she said. Despite the problem the pair managed to get through their qualifying races – "I had about 60-70% vision for the last few races," said Minichiello. "At one point I was bumping into walls, I'd lost 80% focus in that eye." Qualifying was not only hampered by Minichiello's condition, however, but also by a wardrobe malfunction for Cooke that made her an internet sensation . In St Moritz 10 days ago Cooke's suit split just as she leapt into the bobsleigh at the top of their run – the TV cameras perfectly poised to capture her bare backside as they set off on the course. "It's just one of those things," said Minichiello, "and perhaps it will even have introduced a few more people to the sport" she said with a grin. The pair are expected to be back in full training from next week.