Marine Taylor Lawrence focused on Winter Olympics after an injury-riddled summer for bobsleigh team

Royal Marine Commando Taylor Lawrence is hopeful of returning to competition soon with Great Britain's four-man bobsleigh team after their return was delayed due to injuries.

The team will begin travelling this weekend as they look to finally get their 2023/24 season under way off the back of a record-breaking season, which saw Mne Lawrence and his teammates become the most successful British four-man bobsleigh team in history.

However, their off-season during the summer was plagued with injuries, most notably their pilot, Brad Hall, who recently underwent an operation to cure symptoms associated with a prolapsed disc.

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With their sights firmly on the 2026 Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics, Mne Lawrence told BFBS that now is the "better time" for these injuries to happen with 2026 being the "ultimate endgame".

He said: "Brad has been struggling with injuries for quite a few years but he had a bit of a protruding disc, so he took the decision to have that operated on.

"He had part of his disc removed which has then meant because he is our main pilot for our team, unfortunately as brakemen it means we can't slide, but as the games is in 2026, this is the better time for it because it allows everyone to heal properly and ultimately that endgame is in 2026 so we'd rather take the hit now."

The team, which also includes Greg Cackett and Arran Gulliver, hope to get their season finally under way at the World Cup in Igls, Austria, with the main goal being the World Championships in Winterberg, Germany in February.

Mne Lawrence added: "We've missed the first race this season in China, we'll miss the second race which is in La Plagne in France, hopefully we'll get to the third race in Igls.

"We are not going to be fighting fit there because Brad is still rehabbing so he'll either be sat in or just doing a few steps, but for us the World Championships happens every year, so in February that's our main goal of this year, and obviously the long term goal is Milan in 2026."

The team will begin travelling in Europe on 26 November with the World Cups in La Plagne and Igls set to take place in December.