Adele Nicoll is one of the most versatile athletes in the United Kingdom. A three-time national shot put champion, she has also become a standout competitor in bobsleigh, a discipline in which she aims to qualify for the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games. Her story reflects a journey marked by determination and adaptability, combining two sports that demand strength, technique, and focus, even though they unfold in completely different environments.
Her interest in bobsleigh began unexpectedly. After graduating in Sport and Exercise Science from the University of Cardiff in 2020, a casual run with a friend led to a video that caught the attention of a British bobsleigh athlete. From that moment, Nicoll went from the throwing circle to the ice tracks, balancing her career as a thrower with intensive sled training — a challenge that has pushed her to rethink her physical and mental limits.
From Cardiff to the ice tracks
During her university years, Adele Nicoll dreamed of reaching the elite level in shot put. She balanced her studies with training, convinced she could compete internationally without giving up academic life. Everything changed during the pandemic when a simple sprint video recorded in a Cardiff park became the starting point of a new sporting chapter.
The athlete who saw that video invited her to give bobsleigh a try. Although Nicoll barely knew the sport, her physical power impressed the national team. Soon after, she joined the group of brakemen and earned a British medal in the World Cup, the first in 13 years for her country. In 2022, she was selected as a reserve for the Winter Olympics — an experience that solidified her decision to continue competing on ice and to take on the role of pilot.
A physical and mental transformation for a new challenge
The transition to bobsleigh required a complete transformation. Nicoll had to lose nearly 20 kilograms to meet sled requirements and optimize her performance as a brakeman. After her teammate Mica McNeill retired, she decided to train as a pilot — an unusual step for someone so new to the sport. In just two seasons, she achieved a World Cup silver medal, an exceptional result considering that most elite pilots take about eight years to reach that level.
Today, Nicoll is preparing for the first race of the season, aiming to qualify in both monobob and two-woman bobsleigh for Milan-Cortina 2026. She hopes to rank among the top seven in the world, which would mark the best historical result for a British athlete in the discipline.
Balancing two passions
Despite her growing success in bobsleigh, Adele Nicoll has not given up shot put. In 2024, she claimed her third British title in four seasons and plans to represent Wales once again at the Commonwealth Games. However, she admits that her current priority is bobsleigh — a sport in which she receives financial support from UK Sport.
Nicoll believes that both disciplines complement each other. “The more powerful you are, the farther the throw goes — and that same power applies to moving the sled from zero,” she explains. Although she acknowledges that balancing two elite careers is difficult, her goal is to remain active in both, convinced that her strength and adaptability can take her far — both on ice and on the field.
