WILTSHIRE teenagers Charlotte Longden and William Scammell, who both train at the University of Bath, have been selected to race for Team GB in bobsleigh at the Lausanne 2020 Youth Olympic Games.

The 17-year-olds will take to the ice at the world-famous St Moritz when the Games are staged at the home of the Olympic movement in Switzerland from January 9-22.

Both were first introduced to the sport as track and field athletes with Team Bath Athletics Club who, like the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association, are based at the University’s Sports Training Village.

Longden, an A-level student at Marlborough College, said: “I have always dreamed of going to the Olympic Games ever since I was young. Now being a part of Team GB is an amazing feeling and I am so excited to represent my country in the Youth Olympics and for my dream to come true.

“I am so excited to compete for Team GB and do both my family and my country proud. Although I never thought I would be doing bobsleigh, I fell in love with the sport ever since I first tried it and I can’t wait to do my best in January.”

Longden and Scammell, from Devizes, will be bidding to emulate the 2012 medal success of Mica McNeill and Jazmin Sawyers – both have gone on to compete at the Olympics, the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games for McNeill and the Rio 2016 Summer Games for long-jumper Sawyers.

Team GB’s Chef de Mission Georgina Harland said: “This is a very special moment for the 28 athletes selected for the Games.

“It provides vital experience of a multi-sport environment and can be an important stepping stone towards their senior careers.”

“We have seen athletes from both summer and winter sports going on to compete at a senior Games and the athletes in Lausanne will, I am sure, grasp this opportunity to show everyone what they are capable of but, most importantly, enjoy what will be a fantastic experience.”

The University of Bath is home to the UK’s only outdoor push-start track for bobsleigh and skeleton. Find out more at www.teambath.com/bobsleigh.