By Mark Staniforth, PA Sport, Salt Lake City

Click here for Alex Coomber profile
Click here for previous British medallists
Click here for Wednesday's results

Alex Coomber defied blizzard conditions to land bronze in the Women's Skeleton at Park City and Britain's first individual Winter Olympics medal for eight years.

Despite the constant snow which put the lighter athletes including 51kg Coomber at a disadvantage, Britain's three-times world champion took third place behind American pair Tristan Gale and Lee Ann Parsley.

The 28-year-old RAF officer came 0.22 seconds behind Gale after the first run and maintained her position during her second and final slide, eventually finishing 0.26secs off the winner.

"Ecstatic" and "brilliant" were two of Coomber's first words when she slid over the finish line and realised she had won a medal.

"It wasn't until I came to the track at half past seven this morning and saw people already in the grandstands that I realised the enormity of it all," added Coomber.

"I came into this race thinking it was only a race, but it wasn't only a race. The Olympics are just something else.

"Coming over the line and realising I'd got a medal was absolutely amazing, one of the best experiences I have ever had in my life.

"The colour didn't matter, it was all about getting a medal. It's so precious and nobody can ever take that away from me.

"I still haven't come to terms with being here, let alone racing or winning a medal.

"I'm me, I don't go to the Olympics, I don't win an Olympic medal.

"It is something that is going to take an awful long time to hit home, and one day in a few months or longer, I think I will suddenly wake up and think, 'oh my god"'.

The Park City stands had echoed to the cheering crowds from many nations, not least the United States who cheered on their home athletes, and Parsley in particular.

The Ohio firefighter had carried the World Trade Centre flag at the game's opening ceremony and was a sentimental favourite for gold. But Gale prevailed, overcoming her rival by the tightest of margins.

The crowd had already been excited by victory in the men's event for Jim Shea. Shea was continuing a family tradition of Olympic glory, his grandfather winning speedskating gold in 1932.

Shea's grandfather passed away last month aged 91 as a result of injuries suffered in a car accident and Shea rode with his grandfather's funeral card in his helmet.

Britain's Kristian Bromley was 13th and Irish Baron Clifton Wrottersley ranked a brilliant fourth.

The Union Jacks were out too to celebrate Coomber's medal, which came a matter of moments before Rhona Martin's curlers wrapped up an astonishing 6-5 win over Canada to secure a crack at gold on Thursday.

Coomber's second run had temporarily put her into the lead ahead of Germany's Diana Sartor - she might have held a bigger advantage had she not had a big bump coming off turn 11.

Parsley eclipsed her with a time 0.16secs quicker then Gale took gold on the final run of the day.

But suddenly a first week of general disappointment had turned into the nation's best Winter Olympics since 1936.

"There are quite a lot of critics about the British Winter Olympics team and they don't understand what the Winters are like for a country that doesn't have the facilities and doesn't even have a track," said Coomber.

"For us to come here and get two medals is something to be proud of. It just goes to show the gigantic steps we've taken.

"Three or four years ago British skeleton was just a fun thing, not something to be taken seriously. A lot of people have worked very hard to change that."