The Welsh bobsleigh team has stunned world sport by winning gold at the Winter Olympics.

They had gone to South Korea as rank outsiders after failing to impress during training runs at their base near Swansea.

But despite one of the four-man team somehow facing the wrong way, victory was secured in a stunning time of three minutes 13.85.

That time shaved two seconds off the Germans, who were relegated to second.

The Germans looked a little sheepish after they realised their time had been crushed by the unfancied Welsh.

Welsh Winter Olympic manager Dai Evans said: “Nobody gave our bobsleigh team a chance, but they couldn’t pull the wool over our eyes.

“We have been training hard all winter and deserved the win.”

He said a mix-up at the start of the final run saw rear rider Ivor Williams facing the wrong way.

Mr Evans said: “He got in a tangle and leapt into the sled the wrong way round. Perhaps it was an advantage not to be able to see where he was going.”

A worldwide television audience was impressed with the Welsh team’s efforts.

Winter Olympics fan Lorraine Fisher, 34, from Suffolk said: “We had a bit of a giggle when we saw them at the top of the run.

“The sled did not look very hi-tech – but they bombed down the run at lightening speed.”

The Welsh now hope to increase their medal haul in today’s ski-jump final.