Golden girl Lizzy Yarnold visits Brands Hatch on victory tour

Golden girl Lizzy Yarnold visits Brands Hatch on victory tour

21 March 2014

Golden girl Lizzy Yarnold visits Brands Hatch on victory tour

21 March 2014

Olympic hero Lizzy Yarnold returned to Brands Hatch today (Friday), during an open-top bus victory tour of Sevenoaks district. Britain's Skeleton Gold Medallist worked at the famous venue from 2005-2007.

Lizzy, who won Team GB's only Gold Medal during the recent Sochi Winter Olympics, originally hails from nearby West Kingsdown. She took up the Skeleton in 2009, a sporting discipline that involves sliding down a designated ice course lying face down on a purpose built sled. The Sochi course involved 19 turns and involved the 25-year-old hitting speeds of up to 80mph and forces of up to 5 times the force of gravity.

Lizzy was a hot favourite coming into the competition after posting four of the five fastest times in pre event training on the same course, and carried that form over to secure Gold.

The victory tour stopped at former Grand Prix and London 2012 venue Brands Hatch as part of a route from Sevenoaks to West Kingsdown, where Lizzy grew up. During her time at the circuit she worked in the catering department and her brief visit included a reunion with Group Catering Team Leader Mandy Scott.

"It was great fun to work here," Lizzy said. "It was my first proper job, I think this is where I got addicted to speed! I love it here. I loved all of the events but the truck racing is of course one of the best. I'm coming back in a few weeks to watch some of the bikes, so that'll be great!"

"It was wonderful to see Lizzy again," said Mandy. "I'm thrilled that she was fond of her time here. She was a bright and hard working girl, never let us down and always a good source of fun. We're all really proud of her and she thoroughly deserves her success."

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