Olympian Achievement

The 28-year-old women's skeleton bobsleigh world champion, who grew up in Rustington, was met at the airport by her mother, Rosemary Hamilton.

She described it as a very proud moment and is absolutely delighted with her daughter's performance.

"Alex is thrilled and I am thrilled," she said.

Rosemary, 62, had decided not to make the trip for health reasons. She rececently suffered heart trouble. But Alex's sisters Ursula and Veronica and, of course, husband and coach Eric, were there to support her.

Alex won bronze after she completed her course just a quarter of a second behind gold medallist Tristan Gale and only one sixth of a second behind silver medallist Lee-Ann Parsley.

But the two Americans were just that little bit faster, knowing every inch of the Olympic track as they did no doubt from endless practice on it before the games.

Rosemary added: "My heart was with her because I wanted her to get what she wanted. I would have been so disappointed if she hadn't got the medal because she worked so hard for it."

And work hard Alex certainly did, to bring home only the 18th medal ever won by Britain at the winter games.

The full story can be found in the Gazette, February 28.