Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics: Who Are the Stars

The BBC say that there is an emergence of a new generation of talented athletes that has raised British hopes of a record medal haul at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi. But why don't we know who they are?

Among the Team GB Bobsleigh, Curling, Skeleton, Snowboarding, Speed Skating and Freestyle Skiing teams are a host of multiple World Champions, European Champions and record breakers. Some are making their Olympic debut but all are in a great position to cause a stir leading up to medal time.

Coverage of the Games is promised to be spectacular from the BBC with everything being covered and reported and no doubt those that want to will be watching in awe. But why have these athletes not received the same backing and support that the Summer Olympic athletes do. We are all very familiar with Jessica Ennis-Hill, Mo Farah, Cath Grainger, Tom Daly, Phillips Idowu etc who receive months of promotion before a Games. The sad fact is that these winter athletes who have trained and worked so hard to get selected for Sochi, many doing so under their own steam due to a severe lack in funding, and represent Team GB will walk out tonight for the opening ceremony and we won’t know them.

There has been talk of a predicted three to seven medals being won at these Russia Games. Great Britain's best Winter Olympics medal haul was in France at the inaugural Winter Olympics in 1924 where the team brought home four Olympic medals. If ever there was a time we could really prove that we can cut it in the snow this is the year.

I hope that not only do the team do themselves proud and win as many medals as they can but they continue to be proud of the union jack uniform they get to wear! We may not know you yet, but we will be rooting for you no matter what.