Jazmin Sawyers is set to confirm her status as one of the nation's leading young sporting all-rounders by competing at the Winter Youth Olympics having already contested the World Youth Athletics Championships, writes Tom Reynolds.

Having spent the majority of her youth career as a track and field athlete specialising in heptathlon, Millfield student Sawyers switched to a different type of track in 2010.

The 17-year-old was fast-tracked into the world of bobsleigh after the sport's governing body visited the Somerset school scouting for talented ahead of the inaugural Youth Winter Olympics, which start next week in Austria.

"It has been really busy for me with training for bobsleigh in the winter and then going outdoors for athletics in the summer," said Sawyers, pictured.

"But it is something that I really enjoy and I love being a part of bobsleigh.

"I didn't know much about the sport to begin with but I have learned a fair bit now and my driver Mica McNeill and I are confident that we can get a medal in Austria.

"That is what we have been working towards and I think we are capable."

Sawyers is no stranger to a GB tracksuit after her World Youth exploits France in July but she admits the trip to Austria will be a whole new ball game, with more than 1,000 athletes from all over the world going head-to-head.

And having grown up idolising GB's Olympic heptathlon gold medallist Denise Lewis rather than ski jumper Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards, Sawyers is relishing her time off the track as much as on it.

"Being at a multi-sport event is going to be a fantastic experience," added Sawyers, who won Commonwealth Youth Games long-jump gold last year.

"When I was younger, I looked up to Denise Lewis and was into my athletics, so it will be a good experience to learn more about all the winter sports."

The British Olympic Association prepares and leads British athletes at the summer, winter and youth Olympic Games. It works in partnership with sport national governing bodies to enhance Olympic success and is responsible for championing the Olympic values. Visit www.olympics.org.uk.