Found on Facebook, Cooke's surprise journey to Olympic dream

From James Toney, Sportsbeat, in Whistler

THERE was a time when sporting partnerships were forged by trials, auditions and years of hard training.

READY: Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke insist they can upset the odds and add the Olympic to their world title in Whistler next week (Getty Images)

Now you just advertise on Facebook and ride the information superhighway's algorithms to gold.

Less than two years ago Gillian Cooke had never seen a bobsleigh track - and now she's a world champion, thanks, in part, to the social networking site.

Cooke's Olympic ambitions were solely focused on Beijing, after she represented Scotland in the 2006 Commonwealth Games, finishing just outside the top ten in the women's long jump.

But a foot injury sidelined her from the track and while browsing the internet, she spotted a message on Facebook from Nicola Minichiello, who was looking for a bobsleigh partner with an athletics background.

"I got Nicola's message and I sat on it for a couple of days, looking back at everything that's happened since, how stupid was that?" she said. 

"I eventually decided I had nothing to lose. I enjoyed the first session, where we practised push-starts and I was invited back for more sessions.

"I was little apprehensive going down a track for the first time but as soon as I got to the bottom I wanted another go.

"There was no turning back and I knew it was the sport for me. It was fantastic."

Cooke certainly has a lot to thank the internet for - she's also a hit on You Tube after footage of her racing suit splitting during a World Cup start, revealing a skimpy thong to protect her modesty, went viral - with over six million viewers and rising.

She has laughed off the inevitable questions about that embarrassment here but there is no doubting the seriousness of her desire to win another British gold at the Whistler Sliding Centre, following Amy Williams's skeleton triumph.

"In many ways I think I've been working towards this moment for the last 20 years, without even realising it," she added.

"I've never really been satisfied to be the best in Scotland or the even best in Britain.

"My whole life I used to dream about the Olympics but it was always athletics. It was hard watching Beijing because I thought I had a chance to go there and achieve that ambition, so this has been such a wonderful opportunity.

"Deep down I always thought it would happen one day, just not in bobsleigh.

"Amy's win was absolutely fantastic. It's an inspiration and it just spurs us on to try and emulate her success."

Usually, it takes around three years to become a world-class brakewoman but Cooke managed to achieve it in just a matter of months, replacing Minichiello's former partner Jackie Davies.

It's earned her the praise of her driver, like Cooke a former athlete, who is preparing to compete in her third Olympics, have debuted in Salt Lake and disappointed in Turin.