Williams Wins Gold for GB

by Rebecca Roberts - 20.02.10

Amy Williams increased her lead at the Whistler Sliding Centre to storm to a convincing gold medal and the first solo Winter Olympic gold medal for 30 years, for the British team.

The Bath based slider, who accesses sport science and medical services from the English Institute of Sport (EIS) base at the University of Bath, broke her own track record on the way to Team GB’s first medal at the Vancouver Games in a time of three minutes 35.64 seconds.

Commenting on the success of Williams, EIS National Director Conor O’Shea said: “We are delighted for Amy and all of those who have worked tirelessly as part of the British Skeleton programme that they have a well deserved gold medal to come back with.

“We are extremely proud of the work of many of our sport science and medical practitioners who have worked as part of the programme over the past cycle and both those back here in the UK as well as out working with the squad in Vancouver are delighted that all of the hard work has paid off.”

EIS Head of Physiotherapy Chris Price and Strength & Conditioning Coach Danny Holdcroft have been working with the British Skeleton programme out at the Games and watched from the sidelines, whilst EIS Performance Psychologist Deirdre Angella, watched with Williams friends and family in a local pub.

“I am delighted for Amy that results have gone her way and its testament to all of the work she, her coach and support team have put in behind the scenes leading up to this point” said Angella.

“Keeping controlled and focused she has allowed a pure focus on performance, trusting her own ability, the work she has done and the thrill of sliding. I’m sure everyone who watched is extremely impressed by how she’s competed on such a huge stage” she added.

Whilst Williams kept composed, the pressure told on Canada’s pre-race favourite Mellisa Hollingsworth, who faltered on her last slide slipping down to fifth. Shelley Rudman was sixth overall, recording her two fastest slide with an overall fastest of 58.82 seconds.

Speaking to the BBC Williams said “It’s crazy, I didn’t think I’d be standing here, it’s all such a blur, I can’t remember most of the last run. I came out at the bottom and saw our performance director Ando Schmid smiling, so I thought it must be good. Before the race I was OK, it was a bit weird as I was on my own in the changing room and didn’t know when to go out. I was a bit nervous before it but I thought I’ve got nothing to lose so I thought I’d just go out and enjoy it an it was great.”

Much of the Performance Psychology work Angella has done with Williams has been to enjoy her performance and maximise her strengths in order to deliver her best performance on the day of the competition. Click here to read more.

Photography © Getty Images