The 'Brothers Wells' compete at Sochi

Updated: 2014-02-22 04:12:44

( chinadaily.com.cn) By Lei Leiin Sochi, Russia

The 'Brothers Wells' compete at Sochi

Members of the Wells family pose for a photo. (from left to right) Byron, Beau-James, Jossi and father Bruce Wells. Photo by Lei Lei / China Daily

Three brothers from the Wells family are at the Sochi Winter Olympics, competing in skiing for the New Zealand delegation. And a fourth is expected to join them in four years at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.

Led by father and coach Bruce Wells, the three brothers — Jossim, Byron and Beau-James — lined up to compete in the men's freestyle skiing halfpipe and slopestyle. Jossi, the oldest brother, finished fourth in the halfpipe, while Beau-James, the youngest at Sochi, finished sixth. The second oldest, Byron, didn't compete due to an injury he suffered in training before the competition.

"Taking part in Sochi Games with my brothers is amazing. I don't think many people get to experience the Olympics," said Beau-James.

With their father working at the Cardrona ski resort in New Zealand, the brothers were taught skiing there at a young age. "They grew up on the ski field. They are skiing from a very young age," Bruce Wells told China Daily.

Since their mother is a teacher, the children have been home-schooled. "When the weather is good, they just go skiing, and when the weather is bad, they just study at the school desk," said Bruce.

"I'm pretty blessed," he added. "I travel with my boys, and it's great fan to be around together."

Besides the brothers who are in Sochi, there is the Wells's youngest son, Jackson, who also is training for skiing competition at the 2018 Winter Olympics.

"They are all good athletes. Hopefully in four years in Pyeongchang, we will have four Wells boys competing there," the father said, adding "that would be a better chance" to win a medal.