Former Greenhill School pupil and British bobsledder Bruce Tasker will miss the upcoming Olympic Winter Games due to health reasons.

The 30-year-old, who has been a mainstay of the GB squad since 2010 and set to again compete in the four man Bobsleigh, suffered a minor stroke on January 4th.

Tasker is expected to make a full recovery but will not compete at next month’s Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

Having been receiving scheduled treatment for groin and hip injuries at home in the UK while his team-mates were competing in Altenberg, Germany last week, Tasker was taken to Wexham Park Hospital last Thursday after experiencing dizziness and nausea.

He was subsequently transferred to the Stroke Unit at High Wycombe Hospital on Saturday.

He returned home on Sunday and will have further medical assessments over the coming days.

“I’m gutted not to be able to conclude the four-year cycle by going to the Olympics but I’m very grateful that I’m still fit and healthy,” said Tasker, who was part of the GB 4-man team that is line for a potential retrospective bronze medal from the last Games in Sochi in 2014.

“I’m still sore but, otherwise, I feel fine. While I’m not training, I’m already resuming normal life and the dog hasn’t been missing out on her walks!

“I’m set to make a 100 per cent recovery and I already feel as though I’m most of the way there.

“I’ve been looked after incredibly well by everybody and I’d like to thank my partner Kat and her father (both trained doctors), in particular, for their support. The same goes to all the medical staff at Wexham and High Wycombe hospitals who looked after me - they were absolutely fantastic, as was Dr. George Bownes, (Chief Medical Officer for the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association) who has ensured I have received the best care and advice possible since my discharge from hospital. 

“To me, this was a completely freak occurrence. I was unlucky to be in this situation, but I’m lucky to have come out of it unscathed.”

While medical advice will mean that Tasker won’t compete in Pyeongchang, he still hopes to continue his GB career next season.

“I have been strongly advised that I don’t compete again this season but the initial prognosis is that I should be able to resume training with the team in a couple of months.

“In the meantime, I’ll still be cheering the team on from my sofa!”

Amongst those to pay tribute to Tasker this morning, and wish him well with his recovery, have been GB Bobsleigh Performance Director Chris Price, BBSA Chairman Christopher Rodrigues, and Team GB Chef de Mission Mike Hay.

Last month, Tasker spoke to Telegraph Sport after he learnt he was to become Wales' first ever medal winner at a Winter Olympics, when it was confirmed the two Russian crews that finished above him, John Jackson, Joel Fearon and Stuart Benson in the 2014 Games in Sochi had been disqualified for doping offences. The GB crew had originally finished fifth and are awaiting official confirmation they have been given third position and bronze medals.