Sister’s support still strong as Florence flies the flag in Sochi

It’s unlikely there is an Olympian alive who can’t recall where they were when news filtered through that they had been selected to represent their country, but few can tell as unique a tale as Florence Bell.

Florence and her sister Victoria had spent three years flying down the slopes of Europe and beyond in a race to claim the one spot on offer to Ireland in the women’s downhill and giant slalom events at Sochi.

The sisters did much of the travelling together in the bid to make next month’s Winter Games and so it was that one sibling found out the good news as the other came to terms with the realisation her dream was over.