17/02/2006
Team GB pick up first medal
Britain's Shelley Rudman has won Team GB's first medal of the Games, with a silver in the skeleton bob.
Rudman, 24, made a superb second run in the women's skeleton in Cesana Tariol to snatch the Olympic silver medal.
She had been placed fourth after the first run but overtook Mellissa Hollingsworth-Richards of Canada and German Diana Sartor with her second run to put herself firmly in a podium place.
But in the last run of the event Maya Pedersen scorched Rudman's fastest time to take the gold medal with a run that was over a second quicker.
Rudman was nonetheless ecstatic about her silver medal performance having never before scored in the top three in a World Cup race.
She said: "I was going for top six and I knew if I had an awesome run and everything came together then I could possibly tip for bronze but silver is beyond my wildest dreams.'
"I am always able to peak in my second runs so I knew I would be able to relax and do better and correct the mistakes I had made in my first run.
"Hopefully this will give the whole British team a lift. If they've seen I can do it, maybe they'll realise they can do it as well."
Team GB Chef de Mission Simon Clegg said: "It's a great result for her, especially considering she's only been sliding for a couple of years.
"She went quickest in the final training run so we knew she would be competing in the medal zone."
Today, it was announced that Rudman, who has helped to fund her own campaign, is to receive £23,000 in the form of an Athlete Personal Award from April 1.
Previously, the £377,000 funding for the British Bob Skeleton Association, which is split between 20 athletes over a four year campaign, had left Rudman having to fundraise to buy the sophisticated £3,000 sled.
(SP/GB)
Rudman, 24, made a superb second run in the women's skeleton in Cesana Tariol to snatch the Olympic silver medal.
She had been placed fourth after the first run but overtook Mellissa Hollingsworth-Richards of Canada and German Diana Sartor with her second run to put herself firmly in a podium place.
But in the last run of the event Maya Pedersen scorched Rudman's fastest time to take the gold medal with a run that was over a second quicker.
Rudman was nonetheless ecstatic about her silver medal performance having never before scored in the top three in a World Cup race.
She said: "I was going for top six and I knew if I had an awesome run and everything came together then I could possibly tip for bronze but silver is beyond my wildest dreams.'
"I am always able to peak in my second runs so I knew I would be able to relax and do better and correct the mistakes I had made in my first run.
"Hopefully this will give the whole British team a lift. If they've seen I can do it, maybe they'll realise they can do it as well."
Team GB Chef de Mission Simon Clegg said: "It's a great result for her, especially considering she's only been sliding for a couple of years.
"She went quickest in the final training run so we knew she would be competing in the medal zone."
Today, it was announced that Rudman, who has helped to fund her own campaign, is to receive £23,000 in the form of an Athlete Personal Award from April 1.
Previously, the £377,000 funding for the British Bob Skeleton Association, which is split between 20 athletes over a four year campaign, had left Rudman having to fundraise to buy the sophisticated £3,000 sled.
(SP/GB)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
14 May 2013
Report Critical Of Regime At Privately Run Prison
A one-year-old privately run prison in southeast London has been criticised over the level of violence and its restricted regime. A report from the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, Nick Hardwick, said that Thameside jail was effectively in lock down for the majority of its first year, according to the BBC.
Report Critical Of Regime At Privately Run Prison
A one-year-old privately run prison in southeast London has been criticised over the level of violence and its restricted regime. A report from the chief inspector of prisons for England and Wales, Nick Hardwick, said that Thameside jail was effectively in lock down for the majority of its first year, according to the BBC.
13 January 2009
Successful Crackdown On Knife And Gun Suspects
Five guns taken off the streets and visits to almost 200 venues are some of the achievements of Operation Argon. Argon, the Met's crackdown on people carrying knives and guns in and around the Capital's licensed premises, kicked off on 15 December 2008 and finished on Sunday, 11 January 2009.
Successful Crackdown On Knife And Gun Suspects
Five guns taken off the streets and visits to almost 200 venues are some of the achievements of Operation Argon. Argon, the Met's crackdown on people carrying knives and guns in and around the Capital's licensed premises, kicked off on 15 December 2008 and finished on Sunday, 11 January 2009.
10 February 2014
Jones Wins First Sochi Olympics Medal For GB
Snowboarder Jenny Jones, 33, has won Britain's first medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Jones, who was fifth after her first run reached a gold medal position after an error free second run. "Walking out on the podium was a fantastic experience," said Jones.
Jones Wins First Sochi Olympics Medal For GB
Snowboarder Jenny Jones, 33, has won Britain's first medal at the Sochi Winter Olympics. Jones, who was fifth after her first run reached a gold medal position after an error free second run. "Walking out on the podium was a fantastic experience," said Jones.
20 August 2004
Kayak run takes Britain's silver tally to four
On day seven of the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Campbell Walsh competing in the K1 Kayak final was dramatically promoted from bronze to silver. Officials decided to penalise French competitor Fabian Lefevre over a technical problem regarding a timing error, the decision promoted Walsh to Silver and dropped LeFevre down the final ranking.
Kayak run takes Britain's silver tally to four
On day seven of the 2004 Olympic games in Athens, Campbell Walsh competing in the K1 Kayak final was dramatically promoted from bronze to silver. Officials decided to penalise French competitor Fabian Lefevre over a technical problem regarding a timing error, the decision promoted Walsh to Silver and dropped LeFevre down the final ranking.
11 May 2009
Woman Arrested Over Hit-And-Run Death
A 27-year-old woman is being questioned by police following the hit-and-run death of a boy in Bristol. Sam Riddall, 11, died after being struck by a Ford Focus which mounted the pavement and ploughed into him as he walked home from a church youth service.
Woman Arrested Over Hit-And-Run Death
A 27-year-old woman is being questioned by police following the hit-and-run death of a boy in Bristol. Sam Riddall, 11, died after being struck by a Ford Focus which mounted the pavement and ploughed into him as he walked home from a church youth service.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherToday:It will be cloudy again throughout the day. Mainly dry in the morning, but patchy drizzle in places, becoming more widespread and persistent in the afternoon. Freshening southwesterly winds. Maximum temperature 12 °C.Tonight:Cloudy with a spell of heavy rain pushing south through late evening and the early hours, followed by some clear spells. Minimum temperature 6 °C.