Competing in one major international event is a significant achievement, but participating in two within a five-month span is extraordinary, particularly when the sports involved are as distinct as bobsleigh and shot put. Since 2020, 29-year-old Welshpool native Adele Nicoll has navigated this unconventional athletic path after being encouraged to try bobsleigh by Mica McNeill.
While both sports demand explosive power, Nicoll admits the transition has been complex. The lack of technical throwing practice during the winter—typically a vital period for conditioning—forced her to condense her training schedule. Despite these obstacles, including recovery from injury, she successfully defended her Welsh shot put title in June.
Nicoll credits her time in bobsleigh for fostering a heightened sense of resilience and discipline. The grueling nature of the sport, which requires athletes to handle equipment logistics and long travel, has arguably made her a more focused track and field competitor. Her mother, Justine, noted that Adele demonstrated a fierce competitive drive from a very young age, quickly gravitating toward the shot put.
Looking ahead, Nicoll aims to improve upon her eighth-place finish at the Birmingham Commonwealth Games, targeting a top-five position. To focus on representing Team Wales, she has temporarily paused her involvement with the British Bobsleigh program. Beyond her personal goals, Nicoll is committed to inspiring youth in her hometown by running local athletics camps, proving that success is possible regardless of limited local facilities. If she achieves a medal, her mother jokes that a celebratory bus tour through Welshpool would be mandatory.
