Winter Olympics 2014: Who is Lizzy Yarnold?
All the information you need to know about the Kent slider
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Your support makes all the difference.As Elizabeth ‘Lizzy’ Yarnold wins Great Britain's first gold of the Sochi Games with victory in the skeleton, here is all the information you need to know about the Kent slider.
The 25-year-old was born and raised in Sevenoaks, Kent but has since moved to Bath to be closer to the skeleton track and training facilities in the Somerset city.
Having been a track athlete for 8 years, achieving regional and national medals in doing so, Yarnold switched sports after coming through the Girls4Gold talent search and found to have a natural affinity with skeleton racing. She joined the national squad in 2010 and her raw talent for the sport shone through immediately, winning just her third ever race in the European Cup series.
Two years later she won 2012 Junior World Championships and cemented her place at the top of the sport by also medalling at the 2012 World Championships, finishing with a bronze medal.
The 2013/14 season has been a superb and record breaking year for Yarnold. She won the gold medal in the FIBT World Cup series in dominating and comprehensive style.
After winning the first race in Calgary in controversial circumstance following US athlete Noelle Pikus-Pace disqualification for a technical infringement, a rivalry sparked between the two athletes that would continue all season long but Yarnold never looked back.
She went on to podium in every race throughout the season, claiming 4 gold, two silvers and a bronze. Her seven podium finishes is also a Great British record for the sport. She secured the World Cup title in last race in Konigssee.
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