Celebrating 1 year to go until Sochi 2014
Amy Williams
February 7, 2013 16:43 pm
On Thursday 7th February, to mark one year to go until Sochi 2014, I held a live Twitter Q&A on @TeamGB. Thank you for all your questions and sorry I couldn’t get through them all!
First though, I received some questions in advance from students at the Loreto High School in Manchester:
Sherin: How did you get into the Olympic sport of ‘skeletoning?’
Amy: I was a sprinter and I lived in Bath where there is a push track
Sherin: What is the scariest part of the event?
Amy: Stopping, as there are no brakes!
Tamzin: How did you feel winning the gold medal?
Amy: Words can't describe it, everything I have ever worked for paid off.
Nareese: What advice would you give to young people looking to get into the sport of ‘skeletoning?’
Amy: Make sure you work on your sprinting and join a talent ID camp.
Tia: Who are your sporting idols?
Amy I have always admired people or athletes who keep trying and work hard.
Kaitlyn: Who is an up and coming star in your sport? Who should we look out for at the next Olympics?
Amy: Keep an eye on Lizzy Arnold, skeleton, Ellie Christie, short track and James Woods ski slopestyle.
Now the live questions from Twitter:
@LauraJ2803: What was your favourite track to race at?
Amy: Hi Laura, my favourite track to race at was the Vancouver track, loved the style and speed.
@LauraJ2803: what is the worst crash you had while competing and where was it?
Amy: My worst crash was on St Moritz track, horseshoe corner, it gets me every time!
@SkyBlueAmy23: if you were to compete in the summer Olympics what event would you do?
Amy: I would do three-day eventing or pole vault..I think!
@TMortimerHUN: Would you rather own a pet horse, or a pet komodo dragon? Or both?!
Amy: 100% a horse! However a komodo dragon would be interesting!
@phillyrovers: Amy can you describe the first moment you got on and ran your first skeleton?
Amy: It was exhilarating, scary, emotion, frightening....every emotion possible!
@xenon21: hi Amy. Do you still sometimes go and enjoy ice skating?
Amy: I’ve done it once with ski Sunday and would definitely do it again!
@KarenStokes: What is the top speed you can travel down the runs?
Amy: My top speed was Vancouver 92mph - hasn't been broken since!
@TheJamieMac_RAE what did you have for breakfast this morning??
Amy: I was up early so grabbed a banana on way to #daybreak
@RossCassidy1 What was your best moment, appearing on Top Gear or winning Gold at Vancouver? :)
Amy: Of course the gold, it's been a lifetime ambition, however I do love @BBC_TopGear!
@CalJFraser Do you have to be at a specialist institution such as Bath Uni to get into winter sports other than skiing/snowboarding?
Amy: The skeleton team is based at bath uni, most sports have national centres though
@overdrivef1 How important is it to clear your mind and let the subconscious do its natural thing when you are on a run?
Amy: There's a fine line, it takes years of experience to get to the right head space
@SM11DGE where is your career heading now?
Amy: Excited to now be #BOA ambassador for #Sochi2014 & supporting the athletes
@MikeyK65 What is your favourite hobby/pastime outside of the skeleton?
Amy: horseriding was a big passion before skeleton - one day I'll get back into it!
@MarksJournal how do you train for the Skeleton?
Amy: power speed based sport, sprinters training, then learning to slide on ice
@zhukov43 if you could be a superhero who would you be and why???
Amy: Not sure which superhero but I'd love to be able to fly and save on flights and air pollution!
@JoeyHigham What do you rate your chances of getting another medal at Russia?
Amy: I've retired but skeleton have a great chance!
@JoeyHigham ah ok :) who do you thinks our best medal hope?
Amy: athletes in #skeleton, #speedskating & #skislopestyle
@BridieMarisol Amy Williams - have you ever had a scary moment on the skeleton or are you genuinely fearless? :O
Amy: you crash a lot when learning, still have scary days but you embrace the challenge!
@knight2530 what's it like being an olympic athlete?
Amy: Great to achieve something for GB after a lifetime of hard work!
@Matt_Fell If you weren't a solo athlete, what Olympic team sport would you play?
Amy: beach volley ball
@adydawson How to focus better in training and blank out other things To get the most from training ?
Amy: Takes years of training and experience to get the focus right
@MarksJournal what's the worst injury you've picked up from sliding?
Amy: ongoing back disk problems and multiple knee operations!
@hksports Apart from skeleton, what would be your hottest ticket for #Sochi2014?
Amy: #shorttrack and #skislopestyle are also hot tickets for#Sochi2014
@Firefighter_CK what sort of things go through your mind when hurtling down the slopes? Or do you have to stay focused on what you're doing?
Amy: Stay very focused, thinking about what steers you are doing and body position
@mrjoemorgan with the most competitive squad ever heading to #Sochi2014, what advice will you be offering the athletes as the ambassador
Amy: I would tel them you're part of #TeamGB & you have all the support from the #BOA. Keep your head down and focused on training
@ssjdatta Do you think the Summer Olympic legacy has spread to the Winter sports or is there a lot more work to do?
Amy: yes, there has been increased interest & will be great to see the nation get behind the winter athletes
@RunningGirlSam what music are you currently listening to?
Amy: having visited Texas this summer, I'm mostly listening to a bit of country and western
