Skeleton at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's
The women's skeleton event at the 2010 Winter Olympics took place at the Whistler Sliding Centre on 18–19 February. The competition was won by British athlete Amy Williams, who set new course records for the track on her first and third runs. Williams, who had never before won a World Cup or World Championship event, became the first British athlete to win a solo Winter Olympic gold medal in 30 years. German sliders Kerstin Szymkowiak and Anja Huber won the silver and bronze medals respectively. Williams' teammate Shelley Rudman, who had won the silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympics, and Canadian Mellisa Hollingsworth, both of whom had been expected to be in medal contention, were disappointed.
(left to right) Anja Huber, Amy Williams, and Kerstin Szymkowiak
The Whistler Sliding Centre in June, 2008
Canadian slider Mellisa Hollingsworth was among those expected to be in medal contention, but fell from second to fifth places in her final run.
Amy Joy Williams, is a British former skeleton racer and Olympic gold medallist. Originally a runner, she began training in skeleton in 2002 after trying the sport on a push-start track at the University of Bath. Although unable to qualify for the 2006 Winter Olympics, she was a member of the Great Britain team four years later at the 2010 Games. She won a gold medal, becoming the first British individual gold medallist at a Winter Olympics for 30 years and the only British medallist in those Olympics.
Williams receiving her gold medal at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver
Williams at the 2010 Winter Olympics