Olympic, World & European Champion Lizzy Yarnold Creates History Yet Again!

Namita Nayyar (WF Team)

7 years ago

Lizzy Yarnold

Double Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold MBE cemented her place in sporting history not once, but twice. Lizzy sensationally won her second Olympic Gold at the PyeongChang 2018 Games, adding to the Gold she won in Sochi in 2014, becoming the first Team GB winter athlete to retain their Olympic title.

Team GB’s most decorated Winter Olympian was also the first British athlete and the second person ever to claim the Grand Slam of skeleton titles when she won every major title in her sport in just 407 days back in 2014/15.

Women Fitness’ President Namita Nayyar recently had the most wonderful time chatting with Lizzy on breaking records and empowering young girls all around the world.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You are honored to win a medal in the Women’s Skeleton in every Winter Olympics since the event was introduced. With back to back Olympic gold medals in 2014 and 2018, you are both the most successful British Winter Olympian, and the most successful Olympic Skeleton athlete from any nation, of all time. Share with us your journey in the world of sports.

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

It has been a fantastic journey and one I am very proud to have been able to achieve. When I was growing up I dreamed of becoming an Olympian, I was a very keen track and field athlete but realized that I would never be quite good enough to compete for my country. I thought my Olympic dream was over until I went to a talent search day organised by UK Sport, there I tried out for many different sports and got put forward for the Skeleton programme. Months of hard physical and mental tests followed and I eventually got selected for the British Skeleton Talent Team. The rest is history as they say!

Full Interview on Next Page!

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Ms. Namita Nayyar:

In the 2011/12 season you became the junior World Champion and a bronze medalist in the senior World Championships, becoming an inspiration for thousands of women who look up to you. What is a day like in the life of Lizzy Yarnold both while training for and off Olympics?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

A day of training during the summer months when we are in the UK consists of 2 sessions of gym work, lots of resistance training and sprint work. Some time on our push track to work on our start, and lots of other technical work on our sleds, planning for races, physio etc. When we are competing we have a few days of training on the track itself ahead of a race and keep our strength and conditioning and stretching programme going to stay race fit. There is also lots of sled prep to do and race preparation, studying the lines of the track and working out racing tactics.

When I am having time off I like to spend time at home with my family and enjoy cycling, knitting, cooking.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

At the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, you went on to become the first person to defend an Olympic gold in skeleton and the first British athlete to defend a Winter Olympic title. Share with us your preparation, training, and motivation that has helped you to become a double Olympic Champion.

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

It has taken a lot of hard work, a lot of tears have been shed, through injuries and set backs and just generally the toll being an elite athlete takes on your body and your health, and your relationships with people, being away from home as a winter athlete (we compete abroad for 5 months of the year) is tough. But I am so aware of how lucky I am that I got to do a job that I love for so many years, I got to test my body and mind in ways which will always benefit me as a person throughout life.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You were chosen to be the flag bearer for Great Britain at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Winter Olympics. No doubt it is a matter of great proud and honor to be invested upon, when were you informed and what was your first reaction?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

I was told by Mike Hay the Team GB Chef de Mission a few days before the Ceremony. It is a huge honor to be chosen to be your country’s flag bearer at an Olympics, especially when it was voted for by your fellow athletes. I found the whole experience very emotional, it felt like such an important responsibility, I was very moved by it all.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Winning involves a lot of determination and hard work, more so in the life of a sportswoman. What exercises comprise your fitness regime both on a daily basis & when you are preparing for competition?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

I do a lot of yoga for flexibility and lots of core training. When we are in the gym we lift a lot of heavy weights, particularly on our legs in order to build strength for the push start at the beginning of the run. We do lots of sprint work too, we have to try and convert all our power into speed at the start of the run.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Sports-related nutrition is an integral part of a sports person to cope with the physical stress and recover from wear & tear. There is no doubt you too need to take special care of your diet? What diet do you follow to stay healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

I follow a similar nutrition plan when I’m competing, training or taking time off. I think it’s important to feed your body what it needs. I like eating colorful plates, lots of vegetables, lots of protein, and lean carbs when I’m competing. I carry around lots of snack pots to keep me going through the day – nuts, seeds, fresh fruit, beef jerky. I am also slightly addicted to tea – so I drink a lot of cups of tea!

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Being a professional athlete, you are a role model for many striving to make their dream come true, provide us with some motivational words to help others climb up the ladder of success in this field?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

There is no such thing as failure. Setbacks help you learn to move forward and are an essential part of achieving success.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You were initially a heptathlete but then decided to switch to skeleton. What made you choose this particular sport?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

I was put forward for skeleton after entering a talent competition.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

While playing professional sports, athletes often face some injuries and difficulties, what tips would you like to provide to beginners to better cope with an injury & return back to competition?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

Injuries are an inevitable part of being an elite athlete when you are constantly pushing your body to its physical limits. If your body has a good foundation of strength and mobility then I think it is easier to cope when injuries occur. I have been practicing yoga for a couple of years and have found it helpful in keeping my body supple and strong when it is being put through so much strain. Finding an activity like that away from your sport might help, particularly mentally too, you have to stay mentally positive when an injury strikes, keep focusing on your goals, short and long term milestones to achieve your dreams.

Video

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Having performed so well throughout your career, who are your role models, inspiration, and motivator in your career as an athlete?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

Denise Lewis, the heptathlon Olympic Champion was my inspiration growing up. Everyone in my team is a motivator and role model to me now, doesn’t matter what their job is, I take so much from seeing people working at their best with passion and determination.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

After the incredible Olympic season, share with us your country’s & family’s response? What is in store for you in the future?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

The response from the British public has been amazing, they really do support and cheer on us winter athletes! Right now I am focusing on recovery after some injuries, its been a long tough season. Then hopefully a nice holiday at the end of the recovery!

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Women Fitness works with a goal to reach out to women all over the world providing them with best in health, fitness, nutrition, beauty & fashion. What do you wish to say about the website (Womenfitness.net) and a Women’s Day message for our readers?

Ms. Lizzy Yarnold:

We should all try and celebrate women, especially those close to home, friends, family, neighbors – tell each other how inspiring they are and how great they are.

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Video

https://youtube.com/watch?v=qNICHc6OD6E