Olympic skeleton silver medallist Shelley Rudman will play a key role in mentoring Team GB’s young stars at next year’s Winter Youth Olympic Games after being named as an Athlete Role Model by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
Three-time Olympian Rudman, who took silver at Turin 2006, is one of 15 athletes - including World and Olympic Champions - to have been selected and will offer advice to the next generation of winter sport stars the Lillehammer 2016.
The Athlete Role Models will be available during the Games through a series of educational workshops, ‘Chat with Champions’ Q&A’s and in an informal setting offering support and advice from their own experience at numerous World Championships and Olympic Games.
The Games, which run from 12th to 21st February next year, will see around 1,100 athletes from 70 nations descend on Norway to compete across 15 disciplines.
Lillehammer 2016 will be the second edition of the Winter Youth Olympic Games after the inaugural event at Innsbruck 2012 and will host 70 medals events including debuts for monobob, Nordic team event and cross-country and biathlon super sprint races.
Angela Ruggiero, Chair of the IOC Coordination Commission: “The Athlete Role Models are giving back to sport by supporting the next generation of young athletes, both on and off the field of play.
“The ARMs have a wealth of knowledge to share with the young athletes garnered from their successful careers as sportsmen and women, and will be a huge support and comfort to the young athletes, many of whom will be experiencing their first multi-sport international competition.” In addition, Sochi 2014 bronze medal winning curler Claire Hamilton will also join Team GB in Norway in her role as a Young Ambassador for the Games. Young Ambassadors will attend Lillehammer 2016 to help spread the Youth Olympic Games spirit and to encourage athletes to participate in the various educational activities.