Acy Amy slides into history books
Saturday 20th February 2010, 11:30AM GMT.
Amy Williams took a 90mph slide straight into the pages of British sporting history in Whistler, taming the toughest track in the world to become the nation’s first individual Winter Olympic gold medalist in 30 years.
On a course blighted by last week’s death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili and scattered with crashes from bobsleigh training, the 27-year-old Williams steered four near-perfect runs to claim victory by over half a second today.
Germany’s Szymkowiak won the silver medal a full 0.56 seconds behind Williams, with compatriot Anja Huber taking bronze.
Canadian favourite Mellisa Hollingsworth dropped out of medal contention after a desperate final run.
Team-mate and Turin silver medallist Shelley Rudman finished a disappointing sixth.
After setting a track record of 53.83 on her first run and shattering it by going 53.68 on her first of two final runs on Friday, Williams led from start to finish to follow figure skater Robin Cousins into the sparse British Winter Games hall of fame.
Williams said: “I love this track. Once you get over the fear factor you learn to love it and the speed is your friend.”
Williams becomes Great Britain’s first Winter Games gold medalist since Rhona Martin’s curlers in 2002. To find the last individual female winner, one must go back to figure skater Jeanette Altwegg in 1952.
By Mark Staniforth
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