Skeleton sportswoman one of only two Welsh athletes at Beijing games
LAURA Deas sits in 21st place after a night to forget having completed the first two heats of the women’s skeleton in Beijing.
Deas had become the first Welsh woman to win a Winter Olympic medal when she won bronze four years ago in Pyeongchang, but is almost certainly out of the medals this time.
The Wrexham born star sits in 21st place and 1.8 seconds off the lead of Australian Jaclyn Narracott. She is marginally ahead of fellow Brit Brogan Crowley, who sits one place below in 22nd.
The 33-year-old came into the competition ranked 31st in the world this season, and was left questioning how she was so far off the pace.
She said: “It’s certainly not the outcome I wanted. I need to come back tomorrow and execute my plan as best I can.
“I think I slid very well today. I came to the start block in a great frame of mind, I put together two good runs that I think I can be proud of.
“I can’t tell you now why the speed wasn’t there, I don’t know.”
Tomorrow will see the final two heats start at 12.20pm, with coverage on the BBC.
Skeleton has previously been a gold mine for Team GB, having won them nine medals in seven Olympics.
Last time out in Pyeongchang 2014, Lizzy Yarnold became double Olympic champion and Deas joined her on the podium with an unexpected bronze.
Chair of UK Sport, Dame Katherine Grainger had said that she is “not panicking yet” with Team GB not having won a medal after five days. However, it is now a week without a podium in what is turning out to be a disappointing Winter Olympics.
Team GB’s tally of 50 athletes, its smallest since Vancouver 2010, were set a target of between three and five medals. A fruitful return of five medals in each of the last two Olympics at Pyongchang 2018 and Sochi 2014 is looking unlikely in Beijing.
Historically Team GB have struggled at the winter games, having won only 32 medals since their debut, despite attending every games since its inception in 1924.
Team GB is predominantly made up of English and Scottish athletes, so Deas has only one other Welsh compatriot in the athletes’ village. Adele Nicoll from Welshpool is the woman’s reserve in the two-woman bobsleigh. The team came eighth in Pyeongchang four years ago.
- Watch their first run at 12pm on the BBC on Friday, February 18.
