Personality profile 


Mervyn the sled Lizzy’s partner in crime is Mervyn, her trusty BlackRoc sled. She has had the same sled since she started skeleton, with the exception of a few improvements and updates. It weighs 29kg and sits beneath 5ft 8ins Lizzy from her shoulders to below her knees. The sled is named after Mervyn Sugden, a friend and colleague from her days working in the insurance business in the city.


“Although Sochi was my goal, it was


just another date on the calendar, in my phone. I didn’t think about qualifying – just about doing my best to get there. “Sport is all about doing your best,


quality and both the drive and determination to succeed – not necessarily in the sports in which they have so far excelled. Lizzy had never heard of the sport of


skeleton then – yet within three years, she had won her first World Cup race and two years later was Olympic champion. Recalling her win, which occurred


shortly after 5pm (UK-time) on February 14, she says: “We got a great response and great respect from the media for knocking ‘Pointless’ off the BBC!” Following her success at Sochi, there


were 947 applicants for skeleton within the scheme, from athletes aged 18–25. “I guess my success has had a


massive impact in bringing the sport to the forefront,” she admitted. Lizzy received Lottery Funding after


her World Cup success in 2012 and moved to the West Country to train with the British team. However, in typical ‘Lizzy fashion’, her


approach to the Winter Olympics was no big deal.


not necessarily winning. Otherwise, your life would revolve around just four minutes. You have to aim to do your best and know that’s what you have done.” Surprisingly Lizzy did not feel any


added pressure from the fact the eyes of the world – and the media – were upon her. She says: “Nobody can put an athlete


under any more pressure than they do themselves.” Although Lizzy continues to train on a


“I will still be competing in the World


Cup circuit but the pressure is off a bit for the Olympics for another three years; I’m just thinking about the next calendar year at the moment.” Although Lizzy has not lived in Kent


since leaving home for university seven years ago, she has found her Kentish family to be growing almost daily. She says: “I have a wonderful


extended family in Kent now. Everyone in my parents’ village, my Nan’s village and beyond have taken me to their hearts. It’s lovely. “I always feel like I am coming home


when I come back to Kent – once I have negotiated the M25, that is.” Quite unaffected by the fact she is


As winner of the crystal globe, which recognises excellence across all sports, and the Olympic gold, Lizzy now has her sights on the world championship, which takes place in Winterberg, Germany, in March 2015.


regular basis, she is allowing herself to enjoy life a little this year. “A year ago, I was training six days


and taking a day off to recover. Training is really tough. This year, I am trying to fit training in around everything else! “It’s really exciting being invited to


fun things, such as the baton relay. It is nice to be asked to represent sport at events at Lords and Wimbledon and generally to glamorous things, so I intend to make the most of this year and not do anything by halves.


now Kent’s – and England’s latest ‘golden girl’, Lizzy was recently honoured by Kent County Council, who made her the first recipient of its new Kent Invicta Award. The award recognises residents of


Kent who have achieved excellence in their chosen field or have provided an exceptional service to the county. While head girl at school, Lizzy


learned that if you show leadership qualities at a young age, you will go far in life.


Mid Kent Living 7


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