The Sochi 2014 Olympic Games sees Great Britain send one of its largest ever teams, with athletes from Yorkshire at the heart of the nation’s medal challenge. Eleven athletes from Yorkshire are amongst the squad of 56 which are representing Team GB in Sochi this month.

From Thirsk in the north to Sheffield in the south, the White Rose County will be represented by snowboarders, free skiers and biathletes in the Black Sea Resort in Russia from 7th February.

Yorkshire’s Olympians are:

Freeski

• JAMES WOODS (born in Sheffield, lives in Sheffield) (Ski Slopestyle)

• KATIE SUMMERHAYES (born in Sheffield, lives in Sheffield) (Ski Slopestyle)

• JAMES MACHON (born in Sheffield, lives in Sheffield) (Ski Halfpipe)

Snowboarding

• ZOE GILLINGS (born in Isle of Man, lives in Leeds) (Snowboard Cross)

• JAMIE NICHOLLS (born in Bradford, lives in Bradford) (Snowboard Slopestyle)

• DOM HARINGTON (born in Leeds, lives in London) (Snowboard Halfpipe)

• EMMA LONSDALE (born in Settle, lives in Settle) (Ski Halfpipe)

Skeleton

• KRISTAN BROMLEY (born in Waterfoot, lives in Sheffield)

• SHELLEY RUDMAN (born in Wiltshire, lives in Sheffield)

Bobsleigh

• JOHN BAINES (born in Middlesborough, lives in Thirsk) (GBR2 4-man)

Biathlon

• LEE JACKSON (born in Stockton-on-Tees, lives in Stockton-on-Tees and Italy)

UK Sport have set Team GB a target of between and seven medals, which even at the bottom end of the scale is three times as many as this country traditionally wins.