Amy Williams MBE retires from skeleton
Amy Williams MBE has announced her retirement from skeleton with immediate effect.
The current Winter Olympic Champion, 29, decided to call time on her glittering career after being troubled by injuries and therefore struggling to maintain her position at the pinnacle of her sport.
Amy, who graduated from the University of Bath in 2007 with a Foundation Degree in Sports Performance, said: “I have put a great deal of thought into this and it is not easy to finish something that has been the major part of my life for more than a decade but I feel it is now time for me to see what other challenges lie ahead.
“I am extremely proud to have represented my country and have enjoyed every moment and after achieving my lifetime goal of winning an Olympic Gold medal, I feel the time is right that I make way for the next generation of athletes to come through.”
Amy returned from Vancouver a national heroine after claiming Team GB’s only gold medal of the 2010 Olympics Winter Games on her Olympic debut.
In winning gold, she became Britain’s first solo Olympic Winter Games champion in 30 years and the first female individual gold medallist for 58 years.
Other career highlights also included silver medal at the 2009 World Championships in Lake Placid and a silver medal at the 2009 World Cup on the Whistler track that hosted the skeleton competition at the 2010 Olympic Winter Games.
She reflected: “I would like to thank everybody that has supported me throughout my career, my parents, the coaches and support staff at British Skeleton, my sponsors, friends and anybody that has helped me to achieve my dreams.
“I will never forget all the support and appreciation I had when I returned from Vancouver, it was truly overwhelming. I now look forward to the next chapter in my life.”
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The University of Bath is The Sunday Times University of the Year 2011/12.
