Royal Marine Taylor Lawrence has emerged as a groundbreaking figure in British winter sports. His remarkable journey from rugby player to elite bobsleigh athlete showcases diversity in winter sports.
From Military Service to Bobsleigh Champion
Lawrence’s unexpected path to bobsleigh began when a military colleague spotted his potential during a rugby match. Despite a dramatic crash during his first run in 2019, he persevered with remarkable determination.
“I had no frame of reference of what I was getting myself into,” Lawrence told BBC Sport. “All of a sudden there was this almighty crash, and I was wondering what was happening.”
Record-Breaking Achievements in World Competition
The 28-year-old athlete has quickly become one of Great Britain’s most successful bobsleigh brakemen. His impressive record includes 15 World Cup medals, with three spectacular gold medals in both two-man and four-man events.
Together with pilot Brad Hall’s crew, Lawrence made history in 2023. The team secured Britain’s first four-man World Championships medal in 84 years and claimed their first European championship title.
Breaking Barriers in Winter Sports
Bobsleigh stands out among winter sports for its ethnic diversity, particularly through its military connections. Lawrence, standing 6ft 4ins and weighing 107kg, represents a new generation of diverse athletes.
“You don’t tend to see a particularly diverse group of people across winter sports, but bobsleigh is one of those sports that does have quite good inclusion,” Lawrence explains. His success continues a proud tradition of black British Olympians in bobsleigh.
Olympic Aspirations and Future Goals
The British team’s recent £2.8m funding boost from UK Sport marks a significant step forward. However, this amount still trails behind powerhouse nations like Germany, which invests £2m annually in research alone.
Looking ahead to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina, Lawrence remains confident. “Obviously we want gold,” he states. “Anything less than that and we’ll come away disappointed because we know how good we are.”
