Yarnold urges Brits to be brave
Double Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold insists the current crop of British Skeleton stars will need to be brave if they are to leave South Korea with the same smile as she did six years ago.
The new World Cup season kicks off on Saturday morning in PyeongChang - the venue where Yarnold won the second of her Olympic titles - and six British sliders will be looking to emulate her success as the sport’s top circuit returns to Korea for the first time since Yarnold’s crowning glory back in 2018.
“The track is technically difficult but a huge joy to compete at,” said Yarnold, who is delighted to see skeleton back in South Korea.
“There's a few places to get caught out early on - especially corner 2, and then the chicane later on - but when things go right and everything flows together, it's a huge achievement.
“It's all about commitment in PyeongChang - and believing in yourself. The bravest will come out on top.
“Having a World Cup in South Korea is an ideal experience for top level skeleton athletes - new challenges and, hopefully, new challengers. Keeping recent Olympic tracks on the circuit is a sustainable way to maintain the sport so it’s great to see PyeongChang on the World Cup calendar.
“It’s an amazing venue: the warm-up track at the top of the skeleton run is world class, surrounded by views of nearby snow-capped hills. Even though I was ill during my last visit, I can still recall the feeling of the icy cold air flowing into my lungs. What a beautiful place. I can't wait to watch the racing!”
PyeongChang was the site of Lizzy Yarnold's crowing glory
The focus may now be on the new crop of athletes aiming for glory ahead of the next Olympic Winter Games in 2026 but there will be a part of Yarnold that is taken back to 2018 when she watches the action over the next two days.
The then 29-year-old became the nation’s most successful Winter Olympian when she added gold in PyeongChang to the title she claimed in Sochi in 2014 - a victory made even more memorable by the fact that she overcame serious illness on race day to share the Olympic podium with team mate and good friend Laura Deas.
“The race itself was super tense,” added Yarnold, who won every possible senior title in the sport in her stellar career.
“Anything could happen and Janine Flock was leading into the final run, with only 0.02 seconds between us. Racing is all about grit and never giving up and the Winter Olympics in 2018 was just that! Somehow, I performed my best run in Run 4 and smashed it. Winning had never felt so sweet.
“I'll never forget the moment Laura and I realised we'd be on the podium together - Laura winning her phenomenal bronze Olympic medal and I'd managed to back up my previous gold medal with another. We hugged each other and just shouted out in awe, relief and so much pride. It was a total dream come true!”
PyeongChang hosts a double header to start the new World Cup campaign, with men’s and women’s race on both Saturday and Sunday.
The women’s races begin at 7am GMT on both days, with the men’s following from 11am.
You can watch the action live via the IBSF website or YouTube channel and follow the results and reaction on the BBSA’s Facebook, Instagram and X accounts.
