Shelley Rudman

Shelley Rudman (born 23 March, 1981) is a British Olympic athlete. She won a silver medal at the 2006 Winter Olympic Games in skeleton; the only medal for Great Britain at the games. She lives in Pewsey, Wiltshire, England.

She took up the sport of skeleton after watching Briton Alex Coomber win a bronze medal at the Salt Lake City 2002 Winter Olympics. A year later in 2003, she was placed 10th in the World Junior Championships for skeleton. In 2004 she won the Europa Cup in Igls, Austria. In 2005 she won gold in the World University Games.

In order for her to take part in the 2006 Olympics, Shelley needed £4000 to pay for a new professional sled. Her home town held a special canoe race to help raise the money, and they succeeded.

By the time the 2006 Winter Olympics began in Turin, Shelley said she was aiming for a top 10 position, however during a practice run, she had the fastest time, even beating the World Champion of the time. This great performance in the practice run made the public become aware of her. In the first heat, she was 4th, however after a brilliant second heat, she finished with a silver medal. Live television pictures were shown from her local pub, where a large crowd that had gathered to watch her race were cheering and celebrating her victory. The 2006 Olympics were only intended to be a stepping-stone for her as training for 2010 Winter Olympics.

Rudman's best finish at the FIBT World Championships was 10th in the women's skeleton event at St. Moritz in 2007

Personal life

Rudman is the girlfriend of fellow British skeleton competitor, Kristan Bromley, with whom she mothered a child, born in October 2007 [cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/winter_sports/7067281.stm|title=Rudman aims to get back training |work=BBC Sport|date=29 October 2007] .

Rudman is sponsored by the British shaving and skin care company King of Shaves. Kristan was also sponsored by King of Shaves for two years.

ee also

*Skeleton at the 2006 Winter Olympics

References

* [http://www.sportresult.com/sports/bs/db/biography.asp?p_id=100588&nat=&sport=&sex=&season=&stat=&venue=&events= FIBT profile]
* [http://www.shelleyrudman.co.uk/ Official website]
* [http://www.torino2006.org/ENG/IDF/ATH/602566.html Torino 2006 profile]
* [http://www.shave.com/shelley/index.stm Shave.com profile of Rudman]
* [http://sports123.com/ske/wo.html Women's skeleton Olympic medalists since 2002]