Morrison in the hunt
Briton to retain a Winter Olympic title. She already had the grand slam of major titles after adding European and world gold to her Sochi success.
Putting her feet up and knitting a jumper must cross her mind, but Yarnold was playing it as cool as the ice she slides over when it came to her future.
“I’ll take a break. I need to get over my chest infection first. I’ll take a good break and get back to you,” she said.
“I feel very motivated today, as I did four years ago, and I feel that I can jump back on the sled.
“But I’d recommend any athlete to take a break. It’s a four-year cycle and, even though it’s tempting and you’re desperate to carry on, it’s a long time to be at your best. I’m looking forward to being home, remembering that I’m a terrible cook and asking my husband James to cook.
“Normality is a strange thing when you’ve been away for five months. When I put away my wash bag, that’s a big occasion.”
If Yarnold does hang up her sled, bronze medallist Deas could be the one to carry on Britain’s skeleton legacy, although she will be 33 by the time of Beijing 2022.
Only 1924 figure skating bronze medallist Ethel Muckelt and John Crammond, winner of skeleton bronze four years later, have won individual Olympic medals at an older age. For now, Deas’s main priority was planning her summer wedding, where Yarnold will be bridesmaid.
“I feel very motivated to carry on,” she said. “I’ll have a break but it’s been a very long journey up to this point and I’ve worked hard for a long time.”
With the futures of both women up in the air, it will fall to bronze medallist Atkin to push on and keep memories of Super Saturday alive in four years’ time.
The youngest Team GB member in PyeongChang and now Britain’s first Olympic medallist on skis, the 19-year-old stands as motivation to world and X Games medallist Woods, who finished just 1.20 points off a medal after a stacked men’s final.
“Izzy came away with some hardware and that says enough,” he said. “It gives everyone on the system a good name and Izzy a good bit of glory. It would definitely be a harder sell if Izzy hadn’t have medalled and I came fourth.”
Can Team GB hit their fivemedal target? Don’t miss a moment of the Olympic Winter Games at Eurosport.co.uk and the Eurosport app. SEAN MORRISON says Cardiff are getting ready to chase down Wolves after they beat Middlesbrough 1-0 just as the long-time leaders were held to a 1-1 draw at Preston.
“We 100 per cent take pride in being a physical side and I don’t think many teams want to play us,” said Morrison, whose goal against Boro was his third in four matches.
Cardiff went into second place ahead of Aston Villa, who were beaten 2-0 at Fulham as Ryan Sessegnon scored his 12th goal of the season. “He’s got a great future,”
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said team-mate Matt Targett. “To score over 10 goals already in the Championship for any midfielder, that’s good – but he’s 17!”
Sunderland boss Chris Coleman described tomorrow’s match at Bolton as “our biggest game of the season”. The Black Cats were jeered by their own fans after their 2-0 loss to Brentford. Coleman must doubt whether he can save his side from back-to-back relegations but he added: “I’ll be up for the challenge.”