British · Cambridge, England · Born 29 September 1982British skeleton racer who won Olympic gold at the 2010 Vancouver Games, becoming Britain's first individual Winter Olympics champion in 30 years and the only British medalist of that Games.
Amy Joy Williams was born on 29 September 1982 in Cambridge and raised in Bath, England, taking up skeleton in 2002 after trying the sport on a push-start track at the University of Bath, where her father was a chemistry professor. She left her university studies after a year to work full-time and fund her skeleton ambitions, later describing the sacrifices required, including limited time with friends. Williams won silver at the 2009 World Championships, having missed selection for the 2006 Turin Olympics when Great Britain was allowed only a single entrant. At the 2010 Vancouver Olympics, she dominated from start to finish, setting new track records on her first and third runs at the Whistler Sliding Centre to win gold by a commanding 0.56-second margin over German rivals Kerstin Szymkowiak and Anja Huber. Her victory was briefly overshadowed by protests from the United States and Canada over the legality of her helmet's aerodynamic spoilers, both of which were rejected by the sport's governing body. Williams's gold made her Great Britain's first individual Winter Olympics champion in 30 years, since figure skater Robin Cousins in 1980, and the first female British individual gold medalist in 58 years. It was also Britain's only medal of the 2010 Games. She was awarded an MBE and became the first female Freeman of the City of Bath. Williams retired in 2012 after further injuries and has since built a career as a television presenter, appearing on The Gadget Show and BBC's Ski Sunday, alongside work as a British Olympic Association ambassador.
Becoming Britain's first individual Winter Olympics gold medalist in 30 years, dominating the 2010 Vancouver skeleton event from start to finish
How They Played
Explosive starter known for exceptional push speed derived from a background in 400m running, combined with consistent, fearless sliding technique
Lasting Impact
Remembered as a pioneering figure in British skeleton racing, whose lone Vancouver 2010 gold carried the weight of the entire British Winter Olympic team that year
Career Honours
- 2010 Olympic Gold Medalist - Britain's first individual Winter Olympics champion in 30 years
- 2009 World Championship Silver Medalist
- Only British medalist at the 2010 Vancouver Olympics
- Awarded MBE (2010)
British Athletes