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All you need to know about Lizzy Yarnold - Team GB's gold medal hope

Jueves 15 de Febrero del 2018

All you need to know about Lizzy Yarnold - Team GB's gold medal hope

The 29-year-old, who served as the Team GB flag bearer at the Games in South Korea, took gold in Sochi four year ago - and has her sights set on the top prize again

The 29-year-old, who served as the Team GB flag bearer at the Games in South Korea, took gold in Sochi four year ago - and has her sights set on the top prize again

The chances are, you hadn't heard of Lizzy Yarnold before Sochi 2014.

But winning a gold medal can do wonders for a person's profile - and ever since she rode the skeleton to victory in Russia four years ago, she's been a household name.

Yarnold, 29, was chosen to serve as the Team GB flag bearer at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics in PyeongChang earlier this month.

But what else do we know about the athlete affectionately known as 'She-ra' and what are her chances of bringing home another medal?

Here's everything you need to know about 'The Yarnold'.

Who is Lizzy Yarnold?

Lizzy Yarnold was chosen as the Team GB flag bearer

Growing up in Sevenoaks, Kent, Yarnold was inspired to become a heptathlete after watching Denis Lewis at the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

But in 2008, fate intervened.

UK Sport's Girls4Gold talent search scheme identified Yarnold as having potential as a skeleton rider, despite her thinking she was better suited to a sport involving horses.

Two years later, she was competing - and winning. In 2012 she was crowned junior World Champion and claimed a bronze medal in the senior World Championships.

Yarnold will defend her title in PyeongChang

But 2013/14 proved to be her breakthrough season as she took gold in Sochi, setting new track records in the process.

A few months later, she was given an MBE for services to skeleton racing.

In PyeongChang, she will become the first woman to attempt to defend an Olympic gold in skeleton.

Fun fact: her sled is named Mervyn after a former work colleague.

What is skeleton?

Yarnold has looked good in training

In a word, terrifying!

Skeleton riders lie face-down on a small sled before flinging themselves head-first down a frozen track.

It's not unusual for them to hit speeds of 80mph.

Unlike bobsleigh and luge, skeleton always involves single riders.

When does Lizzy Yarnold defend her title?

Yarnold will be going for gold once again

Very soon!

The skeleton heads start on Friday, February 16, with the first getting going at 11.20am (UK time).

The rest of the action takes place on Saturday, February 17.

Hopefully, Yarnold will still be in the mix when the final two heats begin. The final heat and gold medal will be decided from 12.30pm (UK time).

What are Lizzy Yarnold's chances of winning?

Yarnold raced to victory in Sochi

If the form guide is a good indication, Yarnold has a serious challenge on her hands.

She struggled in the World Cup races, finishing 23rd and 13th in Canada and Winterberg respectively.

Yarnold had to settle for a ninth place finish overall, behind fellow Team GB star Laura Deas in seventh.

But she was fastest in the final run on the second day of training on Tuesday, February 13, giving hope to fans.

As far as the bookies are concerned, she isn't the favourite, but she's still in with a good chance.

William Hill have her at 4/1, behind German Jacqueline Loelling (2/1). Janine Flock of Austria is also 4/1.

*Odds correct at time of publishing. Please gamble responsibly.

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