GB medal hope slides into view
British sporting interest in the Winter Olympics has suddenly perked up and it's come from a slightly unexpected source.
, an aspiring artist from Bath, at the halfway stage and now represents Britain's first tangible chance of a medal at the 2010 Games.
in her first run at the Whistler Sliding Centre and was second fastest in her second run to eclipse both the Canadian pre-race favourite Melissa Hollingsworth and GB team-mate Shelley Rudman, the Turin silver medallist.
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Williams has clearly not read the small print of Canada's "Own the Podium" policy, which saw to it that home athletes had about 10 times as many training runs as any other nation.
And she showed that she is not just the second string slider to Rudman in Team GB.
Britain may only have 'looked wistfully at the podium' so far, but after Friday's final two runs, Williams may just claim a corner of a foreign medals plaza to herself.
Amy Williams leads at halfway in the women's skeleton - Photograph: Getty
The 27-year-old confesses she "doesn't pay too much attention to times" - a quirky view in a sport defined by fractions of seconds - but she may just have noticed she holds a 0.3-second lead over second-placed Kerstin Szymkowiak of Germany and a 0.39 cushion over Hollingsworth, with Rudman 0.96 seconds back in joint seventh.
But the West country girl is no bolt from the blue. She may have only behind Hollingsworth and Rudman in first and second, but she was second fastest in the final two training runs and came second - to Hollingsworth - in a World Cup event here in Whistler last year.
"I'm surprised to be where I am, but I just love this track," said the former 400m runner, who switched to skeleton after watching the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics. "Two down, two more to go but I'm almost going to forget today and concentrate on those.
"Every run you do there is room for improvement. We're still learning on this track, we've only had six runs at the Games, and the two today makes it eight. I made mistakes but I think everyone did.
"I feel fine. I'll just try to enjoy it and try to relax. My coach will tell me a few steers to change but we'll have to see what conditions are like. It could all change - the ice, the weather, the air."
British skeleton performance director Andi Schmid is in no doubt that Williams has the pedigree to hang on to top spot.
"Amy was already really strong last year," said a clearly delighted Schmidt.
"She now has six years in the sport, and after being second in the World Championships she has some experience of being under pressure. I hope she will cope with that and I'm convinced she's coping with it.
"What she's doing now is she's enjoying it, she's pushing hard and she's letting it go. It's the first day but I'm looking forward to tomorrow [Friday]."
, despite taking time off after Turin to have a daughter, and carried the flag in the opening ceremony in honour of winning Britain's sole medal four years ago.
The British media certainly thought so and were much in evidence at the Whistler track, which has corners with names like Shiver, 50/50 and Thunderbird.
A night at the skeleton is better than a night at the opera if you're wearing the right clothes; you can peer right into the icy tube and almost touch the sliders, like tickling for lightning-fast trout.
But Rudman has made no secret of the fact, either in London before flying out or here in Whistler, that she is struggling with the nuances of the track. When I asked her if she had managed to get to grips with it after her "much improved" second run, she fired back: "No. Ten more runs and I'll be on it."
Schmid, though, believes she could still trouble the leaders after climbing four places with her second run.
"We will see a great performance in the next two runs from Shelley," said Schmid.
"Top six is possible. Will it be enough for a medal? I don't know but anything is possible, especially at an Olympics."
Britain hope Kristan Bromley can force his way into the men's medal positions - Photograph: Getty
If Schmid is being honest, that bodes well for Rudman's fiance, , who lies fifth after two runs in the men's competition.
The man nicknamed "Dr Ice" - after his PhD thesis entitled "Factors affecting the performance of skeleton bobsleds" - is 0.89 seconds behind leader Martins Dukurs of Latvia but, crucially, only 0.05 seconds off third place. And he clearly has the pedigree to make an impression after becoming the first man to hold the World, European and World Cup titles in 2008.
"I'm in the mix now and I just need to keep fighting away," said Bromley, who came fifth in Turin.
"It's great to move up the table and be within grasp of a medal. It will all be on the final run. When the pressure starts to build people start to make mistakes, and I'm hoping to capitalise on that. Fingers crossed we can pull something out."
Britain may not have glimpsed any podiums yet, but a couple of them may just be sliding into view.
I'm Rob Hodgetts and I cover golf and stuff for 91Èȱ¬ Sport online when I am not news editing or managing the front page.
Comment number 1.
At 19th Feb 2010, phillip wrote:I fear a second protest over her helmut tonight. If the Candians moan loud enough the golds gone. To me the helmut is helping her.But they havent let us train on their track so fairs fair.
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Comment number 2.
At 19th Feb 2010, TWSI wrote:You can maybe answer why instead of showing live sport we got a 45 minute profile of Rudman, Husband and child. A profile rendered otiose after 1 run.
The Gold's up for grabs the Williams first run was the only outlier but one mistake at the top and she is out of the medals should make some exciting viewing.
Rudman needs 1 maybe 2 runs like Williams first. Unlikely and frankly she does not expect it - albeit English Lions and Bulldogs really like a lack of expectation.
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Comment number 3.
At 19th Feb 2010, Dazza wrote:The helmet was deemed legal before the event, if it hadn't have been im sure they would have swopped to a standard one. They can't deny the gold because of it, not that she has it in the bag anyway, but they cant dsq after they ruled it legal.
I stayed up to watch it and both British girls were hugely impressive, particularly in the second runs.
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Comment number 4.
At 19th Feb 2010, The_Spongeman wrote:Great effort so far. One of the 3 medal target looking possible, though I can't see where the other 2 will come from. 1 maybe in Curling, the other?? Regardless of targets, I think any medal a country with our climate gains should be considered a huge achievement.
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Comment number 5.
At 19th Feb 2010, freddawlanen wrote:Good blog Rob, is the skeleton the best event to watch as it certainly has me gripped?
Having watched all of the luge and the first half of the skeleton it seems that the cleanest runs, rather than just a quick start will win gold.
Just about every one of the ladies, except Amy Williams, hit the sides of the run a couple of times and hitting the very last turn knocked 0.1-0.2 seconds off their times on its own.
I'm really looking forward to tonights final runs, good luck to all involved and I just hope for clean runs for Amy, Shelley, Kristan and Adam, here's hoping for a couple of podium spots and maybe one will be a gold.
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Comment number 6.
At 19th Feb 2010, gfilmdog wrote:Stop your belly aching about Canada and win a metal. From where I sit, I see that Canada, US, Germany, Russia, even countries like Kazakhstan and Estonia are on the metals map. Where is GB? What you guys need is the clicking of metal to start writing about things that you can be proud of instead of whining like sore losers.
Get on the metals map GB and get your pride back. This whining is very unbecoming of a great nation.
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Comment number 7.
At 19th Feb 2010, Iamnezzy wrote:Re: gfilmdog, what are you on about?, where is this whining you speak of?, Anyhoo, hopefully we will have some podium spots to celebrate, maybe even a gold *fingers crossed*
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Comment number 8.
At 19th Feb 2010, MarktheHorn wrote:Be nice to get the first medal tonight and a with gold even better...
What a crazy sport and thesr guys are so brave it seems.
Trouble is in Britian you won't suddenly get loads of people wanting to take up such events as skeleton...if the young girl wins she will get 3/4 days of public/press interest before its back to football/rugby etc..the main sports of the UK.
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Comment number 9.
At 19th Feb 2010, Tom wrote:Lets not succumb to cynicism and instead concentrate on the positives, the British girls are doing themselves proud and I wish them all the best but I have to say I cannot but admire the guts and skill of all of the competitors and I wish them all good luck and safe runs tonight.
Lets not jump on any slight sucess and put all this pressure and hype on the British competitors, can't we just be supportive and let them get on with it. They have enough to contend with.
Gripping stuff!!!
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Comment number 10.
At 19th Feb 2010, xenosys2005 wrote:*8, MarktheHorn,
It's a valid point you're making, and I suspect that sports such as Football, Cricket & Rugby will continue to fill the back pages even if the Brits manage to bring home a medal in Vancouver. It's a shame, and it's unfortunate that an athlete/a team that brings home a medal in an event that takes place once every 4 years, will be relegated by a sports and events that take place regularly throughout the year to a column's worth.
Here's hoping the gutter press & tabloids ie your usual suspects give Amy the attention she deserves if she brings home a gold/silver/bronze tonight. The same applies to any other British athlete competing including Shelley & Kristen.
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Comment number 11.
At 19th Feb 2010, MarktheHorn wrote:The main problem is we don't have the facilities to encourage kids to take part in Winter sports to any great length meaning much like some events in the Summer Games they attract interest for a whille but soon go off the radar.
I understand before the Olympics the British Skiing team went bust which sums up the lack of money around for the future compared to the usual main sports even if many football clubs like my own are doing their best to waste all of the money they have!
We actually have a lot of World Champions in minor sports which get little coverage yet despite the popularity of football/tennis/cricket/ golf we actually very little internationa success it seems.
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Comment number 12.
At 19th Feb 2010, KamloopsRed wrote:I think that the intention of "Own the Podium" is not really a policy, more of a general hope for Canadian success, copared to previous Olympics here. I mean, would you want the Canadians to say they were hoping to finish just outside the medals (again) in what they refer to here as a "marquee finish" (ie personal best, or surprised everyone) ? . The athletes have been talking about "owning the podium" in the run up to the games for a while, but I think it is unfair to suggest that this is a method for underhand tactics. Why shouldn't Canucks win ? More power to them, I hope they win Men's Hockey Gold most of all. Have you any idea how much this lot love ice hockey ? It's a complete national obsession. The challenges of dual citizenship. To be honest, I just want England to win the World Cup. And at the moment, there is only one nation "owning the podium" and it is neither Canada nor Britain.
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Comment number 13.
At 19th Feb 2010, Roy Griffiths wrote:We have a huge gathering of fans in Weymouth & Portland home of the 2012 Olympic & Paralypic Games watching Amy and Shelly tonight we can definately stay awake for our medal hopes no matter how late.
Message for Claire Balding please say thanks to Kerrin for being one of the most informed commentators outside of Michael Johnson in the summer Olympics - she is brilliant and has made up for the lack on GBR results!
Fingers crossed from Roy & Jacqui Weymouth & Portland,Dorset
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Comment number 14.
At 19th Feb 2010, Roy Griffiths wrote:sorry should have said Weymouth & Portland home of the 2012 Olympic & Paralympic Sailing Events = apologies Seb!
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Comment number 15.
At 19th Feb 2010, Allie Fleming wrote:Great vewing so far this week. It has been so good to watch the other events.....and praying for Great Britain to win a medal of any colour! Until tonight: Amy Williams could win gold at the skeleton event and end our wait for olympic glory which has been gipping the nation all week. Im in two minds of staying up tonight for this because Iv had so many last nights all week, but tonight has got to be the night when it would be worth staying up late to see the magic happen. Not just for Amy but for GB too.
GO AMY!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT GIRL!!!!!!!!!
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Comment number 16.
At 19th Feb 2010, CapitalDan wrote:Since Amy won silver at the 2009 worlds, to suggest it is an unexpected source seems to suggest a lack of research. But when Matthew Pinset (rower) and Steve Cram (runner) are deemed sutiable candidates to report on winter sports, what can we realistically expect?
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Comment number 17.
At 20th Feb 2010, Mal 169 wrote:only a bad loser will complane after the equipment that you use in a comp has been oked by the organisers! GO AMY GO AND JUST DO YOUR BEST! The so called big boys don't always win AND THEY DON'T LIKE IT. Bo Ha for them.
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Comment number 18.
At 20th Feb 2010, gandalfstwin OGGMSTKMBGSUIKWIATA wrote:Amy, you are brilliant!!!
Your preparation facilities remind me as the ones used by 'Eddie the Eagle'!!!
Keep it up!!
You deserve Gold for your efforts so far!!!!
Best of luck for round 4!!!!!
Bernard Gilday, (age 58, Preston, Lancashire!!)
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Comment number 19.
At 20th Feb 2010, wasteoftime wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 20.
At 20th Feb 2010, wasteoftime wrote:wasteoftime is damn right
stop showing nobody sports that get no funding and less of a chance of gold medal
give me: speed skating / snowboarding / snowcross / iceskating
No more lycra clad tea tray sliging bullsh*t
Vancouver?
run-for-van-cover-cos-its-shite-coverage-by-IOC-and-bbc
more like
bring on london 2012 and please can it be presented by JWoss and graphics by the gorillaz with music from massive attack and graphiti / graphotgraphiti by my gallery: NOUS
Viva la revolution
Down with the IOC and god bless those blessed souls who buy into the "olympic" ideal
god blessed those who actually win a gold for this cynical,obese island that does not support you financially
you deserved a whole lot more and we owe you more than we will ever pay you.
Thanks for coming - IOU more than IOC
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Comment number 21.
At 20th Feb 2010, xenosys2005 wrote:WELL DONE AMY!! YOU'VE MADE EVERYONE IN GREAT BRITAIN SUPREMELY PROUD!!
Fantastic. Dealt with being overnight favourite flawlessly, and fully deserve the victory, after putting in another 2 superb runs!
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Comment number 22.
At 20th Feb 2010, aroyalewithcheese wrote:Well done Amy!! our golden girl
You have done yourself and Britan proud!!
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Comment number 23.
At 20th Feb 2010, KenC wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 24.
At 20th Feb 2010, Ruairi OMahony wrote:This comment was removed because the moderators found it broke the house rules. Explain.
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Comment number 25.
At 20th Feb 2010, Doug of Durban wrote:I do wish the commentators would stop using the word "passionate" every 2nd sentence, and stop saying that the competitor is " going for gold". They are all, presumably, going for gold, so to keep pointing it out is, well, pointless. And not very passionate
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