mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Britain wins first Olympic gold in 30 years as Amy Williams slides her way to glory in skeleton By Daily Mail Reporter Last updated at 7:48 AM on 20th February 2010 Comments (26) Add to My Stories Britain ended a 30-year wait for a solo Winter Olympic gold medal today after Amy Williams slid her way to glory in the skeleton bob. The 27-year-old from Bath was more than half a second quicker than the rest of the field at Vancouver 2010 after the final heat. She becomes Britain's first gold medallist in an individual discipline at the Winter Olympics since ice skater Robin Cousins, who triumphed at Lake Placid in 1980. Gold medalist Amy Williams is carried by Germany's bronze medalist Anja Huber (L) and silver medalist Kerstin Szymkowiak Winner: Amy Williams picked up Britain's first individual Winter Olympic gold medal for 30 years today Williams, nicknamed 'curly wurly' because of her frizzy hair, hugged team-mates and wrapped herself in a Union Flag after her win at the track in Whistler, Canada She was leading going into the fourth and final run, and held off Kerstin Szymkowiak from Germany She also beat the home favourite Mellisa Hollingsworth, who ended up fifth - and survived a protest against the legality of her helmet More... ROBERT HARDMAN: As Canada's Olympics are branded 'the worst ever', what lessons can Britain learn for 2012? Her win marks Britain's first medal at this year's Winter Olympics. Williams' team-mate Shelley Rudman, who won a silver at Turin four years ago, missed out on the podium this year. Williams described her triumph as 'crazy'. She told the BBC: 'I am absolutely speechless. It's all a blur. I can't even remember half of it. 'I just came out the bottom and looked at my coach.' Amy waves at the finish during the final run of the women's skeleton Enlarge Golden girl: Amy in action on the skeleton The athlete - whose sled is called Arthur - was competing at her first Winter Olympics. She reputedly complained of 'not really liking it' after her first go on the skeleton, but she managed to win a silver medal after entering the World Push Championships in 2002. Last year she won a silver medal in the World Championships and another silver in the World Cup race in Whistler, Canada. Her Olympic triumph continues a fine run of British skeleton sliding since the sport was reintroduced to the Winter Olympics at the 2002 Salt Lake City Games. Alex Coomber won bronze eight years ago, followed up by Rudman's silver. Rudman finished sixth this year. Skeleton's international governing body rejected a protest filed on Thursday by the United States team which claimed that ridges on Williams' helmet gave her an illegal aerodynamic advantage. But International Bobsleigh and Tobogganing Federation jury president Wolfgang Strauss said the helmet's manufacturer confirmed the ridges were 'an integral part' and it was ruled legal for racing. Williams led from the first round, also setting the fastest time in the third heat. Andy Hunt, Team GB's chef de mission in Vancouver, paid tribute to her performance. He said: 'It was absolutely extraordinary. It's a great night for Amy, and great night for Team GB. We are delighted for her. 'Right from the outset she was in the lead and she maintained that throughout. It's just an extraordinary achievement.' Mr Hunt also praised her focus after the protest was made. 'She absolutely kept her cool and kept her focus and look what she delivered.' UK Sport chief executive of UK Sport John Steele added: 'It takes a lot of endeavour, sacrifice and team work to become an Olympic champion and I would like to congratulate Amy, British Skeleton and all those behind the scenes who have contributed to this success.' British Skeleton received a record £2.1m of lottery and exchequer funding for Vancouver through UK Sport. Amy's proud parents Ian and Jan congratulate their daughter after her record-breaking win Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 BOO Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 YAY! She was awesome!:cool: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pseudonym Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 PIEEE Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Macintosh Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Congrats! Viva la UK! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxus vahlii Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 It's been that long? Damn.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Buxus vahlii Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Where are my manners? GO Britain! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 We already have a Vancouver thread Mark, I'm thrilled for Amy though, she thoroughly deserved it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 We already have a Vancouver thread Mark, I'm thrilled for Amy though, she thoroughly deserved it. And thoroughly deserves her own thread.:smug: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crests Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 GO PANGEA! There, that settles it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 And thoroughly deserves her own thread.:smug: Oh fuck off, should I make a new thread every time Newcastle win a game then? Cos their performances deserve credit? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 Oh fuck off, should I make a new thread every time Newcastle win a game then? Cos their performances deserve credit? Only an idiot would compare anything the Toon do to somebody winning a gold medal for Britain!:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Only an idiot would compare anything the Toon do to somebody winning a gold medal for Britain!:rolleyes: But their performance deserves credit! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 But their performance deserves credit! In the extremely unlikely event they win the Premiership or Champions League, go for it.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 I wont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 I wont. That's OK, because neither will they.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 Yeah cos Charlton are almost there! Don't be silly Mark, I've not even mentioned winning anything yet you are accusing me of caring about winning those things Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 Yeah cos Charlton are almost there! Don't be silly Mark, I've not even mentioned winning anything yet Well that's good, because it ain't ever gonna happen!:laugh3: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 As I've made clear though, that's not even in my thoughts, so mentioning it again as if it's going to bother me is just baffling. We're Newcastle and we're gunna win the league :nice: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 ^Dream on. I reckon it's time you changed your Toon.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 What does that even mean? I'm hardly a stuck record. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 What does that even mean? I'm hardly a stuck record. Copious amounts of evidence suggests otherwise.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 With regards to this topic, you shit person. Your avoidance tactics are so fucking basic and childish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mc_squared Posted February 20, 2010 Author Share Posted February 20, 2010 With regards to this topic, you shit person. Your avoidance tactics are so fucking basic and childish. I think you mean your comments.:rolleyes: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorrificAttack Posted February 20, 2010 Share Posted February 20, 2010 No I don't actually. Also, back to the point of the thread, this thread shouldn't exist, shall we make one for every medal? This isn't a British website, so why should Amy Williams get a thread when every other gold is in one thread about the olympics, is it cos the Daily Mail did a report on it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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