YARNOLD EYES ARE ON PRIZE
LIZZY YARNOLD is happy to be flying under the radar as she prepares to defend her Olympic skeleton title.
Yarnold (above) was a red-hot favourite four years ago, but arrives in South Korea after a tough season that saw her overtaken as British No.1 by team-mate Laura Daes.
Yarnold insists her unrivalled experience will count when it matters most, however, as she seeks to become the first British athlete to defend a Winter Olympics gold.
“I’ve never taken my eyes of the prize here,” she said. “I’ve always said this season was about being good in PyeongChang.
“The Olympics suit me, two days of competition under the most intense pressure. It rewards consistency and I’ve got that knowledge of having been there and done it – no one else has that.”
Yarnold, 29, took a year out before returning to the ice last season.
And while her rivals stepped up – Germany youngster Jacqueline Lolling is favourite for gold here – she insists she’s a better athlete for it.
“I’m only driven by these next four runs and that’s what has got me out of bed every morning,” added Yarnold. “If I hadn’t taken that year off, I wouldn’t be sitting here now.”