GREAT Britain bobsleigh pilot John Jackson has vowed to use his "true British fighting spirit" to bring home a first OIympic bobsleigh medal since 1998.

Jackson, who lives in Trowbridge with Great Britain women's number one Paula Walker, has sent down a series of fast training times this week as he builds up to the four-man competition, which takes place over two nights from Saturday.

The Paxcroft Mead pilot, who has battled back from a serious Achilles injury sustained in the summer, was third fastest in the sixth and final training heat on Friday.

He said: "Whatever the result, we are going to hold our heads up high and give it everything we can in true British fighting spirit."

However, Jackson, who will be joined by his crew of Bruce Tasker, Joel Fearon and Stuart Benson, is keen to play down his chances of success.

His rivals for a medal include American reigning Olympic champion Steven Holcomb, reigning world champion Beat Hefti of Switzerland, and newly-crowned Russian two-man champion Alexander Zubkov.

Jackson added: "To be on the podium in Sochi we've got to beat the current Olympic champion and current world champion.

"To get in the top six we've got to beat people who are consistently on the podium so that's the challenge we are up against."

FOLLOW JACKSON'S PROGRESS IN THE OLYMPIC FOUR-MAN EVENT IN SOCHI AT WINTER OLYMPICS LIVE AT WILTSHIRETIMES.CO.UK/SPORT THIS AFTERNOON