SHELLEY RUDMAN has told Lizzy Yarnold to avoid the limelight in Pyeongchang if she wants to retain her Olympic skeleton title.
Yarnold, 29, carried the weight of Team GB on her shoulders in Sochi four years ago, winning our only gold medal – and that will be the case during her first run on Friday.
The Kent slider is looking to re-write the history books, by becoming the first Briton to win back-to-back Winter Games golds in any event.
Rudman knows all about the emotions and pride of winning a Winter Olympic medal for GB, having become the first Brit to win silver in the event 12 years ago in Turin.
But she also knows how hard it is to replicate the glory on the next Olympic stage, finishing sixth in Vancouver as fellow Brit Amy Williams claimed the top prize.
And Rudman believes Yarnold needs to take isolation to the next level if she is to live up to global expectations as Britain’s golden girl.
The Eurosport expert said: “I think if you’re on flow throughout the World Cups and then into an Olympics you have that air of confidence.
“But if you’re not quite connecting with the Olympic track prior to going there it throws up an entirely different ball game and you’re a bit unsure of yourself.
“It’s very hard going into a Games under pressure and sometimes you can just deal with it.
“But sometimes it just becomes too much. It’s the full track and the crowds and all of the emotion – it’s just such a competitive environment.
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“You’ve almost got to completely come away from everything like that, all the hype and focus on the little goals along the way.”
Yarnold is not coming into the Games after the best of years, but has shown signs that she has hit form at the perfect time in her practice runs ahead of tomorrow’s start.
After waltzing to an incredible two-year Grand Slam of Olympics, World Cup, European and world titles in 2014 and 2015, the Bath-based athlete has had a stuttering to this winter.
She is currently ninth in the World Cup rankings – two places behind 29-year-old team-mate Laura Deas.
Rudman took a similar decision to Yarnold, taking some time off following her 2006 Olympic adventure after giving birth to her first child.
And despite expecting Yarnold to claim at least a podium position this month, there is always the worry that her rivals have hit their stride in her absence.
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She added: “Having a year out after a busy period is a double-edged sword really.
“On the one hand you are really nice and relaxed, you’ve had all of that recovery time, and you can repair injuries.
“But you’ve lost the whole year and sport moves on.
“It’s great for regeneration but it takes a little bit of time to get back.
“I myself did it with a baby break with my first daughter and I found it quite a good rest, I came back reenergised and ready to go, but for some people they can struggle.”
SHELLEY RUDMAN will be offering her insight during Eurosport’s UK coverage of the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018. Don’t miss a moment of the Olympic Winter Games on Eurosport and Eurosport Player. You can watch Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Daes on Friday at 11.20am LIVE, go to www.Eurosport.co.uk.
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