6 BRIT MEDAL HOPES
AMY WILLIAMS won gold for Great Britain in the skeleton at the Vancouver Winter Olympics in 2010. Here she picks out some of the Brits who could follow in her footsteps this time around in Pyeongchang. LIZZY YARNOLD (Skeleton) Women’s four final heats, Feb 16-17, 11.20am SHE loves the big competitions and always finds her game when it comes to the major championships.
No, she hasn’t had the best season so far, but I wouldn’t rule her out of a medal.
Plus, there is always going to be the confidence from knowing that you did it four years ago.
Her team-mate Laura Deas is ranked No 6 in the world at the moment and has been gradually getting better every year. Nobody ever speaks about her but she has been on the podium in the World Cup events.
She almost reminds me of me — the underdog. She has got a phenomenal start and if she holds it together in her head, she can definitely win a medal. ELISE CHRISTIE (Speed skating) Women’s 1,500m, Feb 12, 12.30pm; 1,000m, Feb 14 10am; 500m Feb 18, 11.56am. OH my word, she definitely has the skills to bring home two medals at least. She has been winning everything, multiple medals in the 500m, the 1,000m and the 1,500m as well. Elise (right) didn’t exactly have the best time in Sochi, suffering those disqualifications having come so close to winning a medal.
Speed skating is the national sport of South Korea so she has not only got the home athletes to beat but everyone behind them as well.
CURLING TEAMS Men & women’s round robin starts Feb 14. Men’s gold medal match, Feb 24, 6.35am; Women’s gold medal, Feb 25, 12.05am. THE men won silver and the women bronze in Sochi four years ago and the teams have a history of bringing home medals.
Who can forget the thrill of Rhona Martin and her team winning gold back in 2002 in Salt Lake City?
We have a terrific history of curling in this country and a superb pedigree, so we have every chance. KATIE ORMEROD
(Snowboard) Women’s slopestyle qualification, Feb 11, 4.30am; Final 3 runs, Feb 12, 1am. Women’s big air qualifying heats, Feb 19 12.30am; final runs, Feb 23, 12.30am. THE target has been set to bring home two medals from all of the snow sports.
Katie will be among the favourites in both the slopestyle and the big air snowboarding events.
She won the World Cup big air event and was on the podium in the Winter Olympics test event. She also won slopestyle bronze in the X-Games. DAVE RYDING (Alpine skiing) Men’s slalom runs 1 & 2, Feb 22, 1.15am and 4.45am HE won Britain’s first World Cup medal in 36 years last year so whatever happened on that day, just do that again!
Like many of these events, it’s all about performing on the big day with all the extra pressure. You really can’t focus on any other athlete. Amy Williams MBE is supporting Ride The Night, a women’s 100km overnight bike ride through London to raise money for leading cancer charities. Visit dream-challenges.com