From the ice to the boardroom – double Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold joins BBSA Board of Directors

01 November 2019

Double Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold says she is looking forward to helping “continue the sports’ momentum” after being appointed to the Board of Directors of the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association (BBSA).

Yarnold became Team GB’s most successful Winter Olympian while training with the BBSA at its University of Bath headquarters, winning women’s skeleton gold at both the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Games plus the World and European titles before calling time on her stellar career last year.

She was appointed following an open competition process and joins Ian Richardson in completing the new Board structure ahead of the 2019-20 sliding season.

“As a recently retired athlete I’m excited to use my knowledge of skeleton, bobsleigh and the world of winter sports to help the Board to make more informed decisions,” said Yarnold, who will combine her duties as a Non-Executive Director with her work mentoring the younger athletes on the British Skeleton team.

“I loved my life as an athlete, made possible by the hard work of so many. I now have an opportunity to give back, help others and continue the sports’ momentum, for which I’ll do my very best.”

Yarnold was a member of the Team Bath Athlete Forum, a group of athletes representing the wide range of sports at the University whose input helps to ensure their needs are addressed at the Sports Training Village.

Like Yarnold, Richardson joins the Board of the BBSA with a wealth of winter sports experience behind him having been involved with bobsleigh for more than 20 years.

Ian previously served on the Board of British Bobsleigh and has also been a central figure within the BBSA’s Membership Association for the past four years. A regular jury member on the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation circuits, he also continues to play a significant role within the promotion of para and youth bobsleigh at both a national and international level.

The University of Bath is proud to be home to the BBSA, with skeleton and bobsleigh athletes training on the UK’s only push-start track as well as in the high-performance gym and indoor athletics facilities. Click here to find out more.

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