GB Bobsleigh performance director Anderson announces departure

Anderson stepped back from some of his wider duties in mid-July citing personal reasons, but he has decided to make his time away permanent in order to devote more time to his family and health.

During his near eight-year tenure at the helm of the programme, Anderson has witnessed a dramatic turnaround in the fortunes of British athletes, his four-man crew at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics finishing just 0.11 seconds shy of a bronze medal.

Just 18 months ago, Bruce Tasker and Joel Fearon secured Great Britain's best World Championship two-man result for 50 years, with their fourth-place finish in Igls.

Having joined GB Bobsleigh in 2010, Anderson has not only developed a world-class senior programme, but also a youth programme that produced silver and bronze medals at both the 2012 and 2016 Youth Olympics, and leaves the British squad in a strong position to deliver a medal at next year's Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

"I feel very proud of what has been achieved over the past eight years and of the work that has been done to set up our athletes for success at the Pyeongchang Olympics in 2018," said Anderson.

"Over the past six months, I have had to deal with some health and personal issues that need further attention and it is important that I prioritise these.

"Nearly eight years in post is a long time for a performance director of a winter sport that travels extensively and I am immensely proud of the progress the sport has made in that time.

"There are so many highlights, including the sight of three Union Jack flags being flown in St Moritz as our junior squads swept the board in 2016, but the performance of the four-man crew at the 2014 Olympic Games and the two-man team at the 2016 World Championships are stand outs for me.

"Looking forward to Pyeongchang, I know that this current squad of athletes can deliver and Olympic medal. I now look forward to being Team GB's number one fan in February 2018."

Sportsbeat 2017