As Alex Coomber sped her way to Britain's first medal of the 2002 Winter Olympics, some of the biggest cheers of support were in Colchester.

Pam Coomber, mother-in-law of the new women's skeleton bobsleigh bronze medallist, spent a nervewracking few hours with her daughter, Sharon, and a group of friends as the competitors hurtled down the Utah Olympic Park bob track

The thrilling sport involves sliding down the 1,335m course at up to 80mph on a small sled and this is the first year a women's event has ever been included in the Winter Olympics.

Alex Coomber, a 28-year-old RAF flight lieutenant from Somerset, took it up just five years ago and is trained by her husband Mark, 38, a former pupil of Philip Morant School, who is in the Navy and known to colleagues as Eric.

Already a world champion, Alex first tried the sport during a team-building course and used to practise with a tray on a supermarket car park.

Pam Coomber, her daughter and friends celebrated with champagne: "I'm very proud of her and very proud of my son," she said.

And she was hopeful that next time her daughter-in-law will do better: "I'm sure she'll do it again and I think she'll get gold next time."

Published Thursday, February 21, 2002