GREAT Britain’s bobsleigh brakewoman Rebekah Wilson had friends at the Runcorn gym where she trains cheering for her as she competed in the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

The 22-year-old finished 12th with Paula Walker recording an overall time of 3:54.24.

She said afterwards: “I feel really proud that I competed with Paula and that everything I have done has all paid off.

“I am frustrated with my performance, we both know if we hadn’t mistakes that we could have done better, but people forget how difficult it is to get here.

“I am proud – it is just when you have got a job to do it is frustrating when things don’t go to plan.

“I don’t think people quite realise some of the things I have gone through and to me I am proud and I know my family are and that is all that matters.”

America was 1.87 seconds ahead of the British duo.

Dedicated Rebekah has five national titles under her belt. She won the World Junior Championship in 2011 with Paula.

Rebekah travels to The Heath Leisure Suite three or four times a week and has been training with her coach, Morris Condon, and fellow GB athlete Abigayle Fitzpatrick.

Manager Mark McGrath said: “We’re really proud to have the girls training here. To have two such high profile athletes of this calibre using the facilities is an inspiration for everyone else who uses the gym.

“We can see exactly how hard they work at preparing for their competitions. They have to be incredibly dedicated and we try to make it as comfortable as possible for them.”

Rebekah, from Altrincham, said: “We are really happy training at The Heath, the staff are absolutely fantastic and very accommodating.

“The other gym users are very friendly and supportive and it is a very nice environment to work out in.

“We find it a much better atmosphere than a huge, clinical gym and are able to truly relax here as well as do a lot of different exercises that you wouldn’t see in a mainstream gym.”

Rebekah has trained with Abi for five years even though they excel at different sports.

Former Liverpool FC player Abi only became a runner to improve her fitness on the football field and was representing Great Britain 18 months later in the first World Youth Olympic Games in Singapore.

  • Visit theheath.com for details about the gym. You can read Rebekah's tweets below.