British bobsledder suffered ultimate wardrobe malfunction while practicing for Winter Olympics

Team GB’s Winter Olympians will be hoping to avoid a repeat of Gillian Cooke’s infamous wardrobe malfunction.

The former bobsledder went viral ahead of the 2010 Games after an embarrassing moment at a World Cup event.

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Cooke’s prototype racing suit slip-up became a YouTube sensation after the clip went viral online.

She had been preparing to push off for a run in St Moritz, Switzerland alongside driver Nicola Minichiello.

However, the spandex split before she could get into her seat, giving the TV cameras full view of her backside.

Fortunately for the British duo, they were able to finish seventh at the event despite the wardrobe malfunction.

They would not have the same success at the Winter Olympics in Vancouver a month later.

After crashing out on their third run, Cooke and Minichiello did not start their fourth and final run.

Gillian Cooke on her wardrobe malfunction

The Scottish athlete reflected on her fashion mishap in 2011 during an interview with The Sun.

She jokingly admitted: “I’m just so grateful I was wearing underwear that day.”

Cooke added: “I hesitated only for a second, but if we’d pulled out we’d have been disqualified. There was nothing I could do but go for it.”

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As for how cold she felt after the incident, she said: “I blocked it out until I got in the sleigh and sat down, when I was suddenly reminded it was mighty cold.

“But there was interest in that clip from all over the world. The Netherlands were very keen on it for some reason.”

As a pairing, Cooke and Minichiello had previously won gold at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid.

Meanwhile, they claimed bronze at the European Championships the same year.

Cooke had competed in track and field both before and after her bobsleigh career, appearing in triple jump and long jump events.

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Team GB’s bobsleigh hopes

Team GB have qualified six sleds across the bobsleigh events at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo.

They are set to be represented by two teams in both the two-man and four-man events.

Meanwhile, one British sled is expected to feature in the two-women and women’s monobob disciplines.

The opening ceremony of the 2026 Winter Olympics will take place on Friday, February 6, with the Games running until Sunday, February 22.

Bobsleigh events are slated to begin on Sunday, February 15 and run until the final day of the Games.