<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">*Each week GLAMOUR's interviewing an
awesome woman in sport, as part of our Say No To Sexism In Sport campaign. This week
it's Amy Williams, who won gold at the 2010 Winter Olympics in the
skeleton bob. She was the first solo, female gold medalist for Team
GB at the Winter Olympics for 58 years. A former GLAMOUR
Sportswoman of the Year, Amy retired in 2012, and since then has
become a sports commentator and TV presenter.*
<p class="x_MsoNormal">By Georgia Posner
How did you start your sports career?
<p class="x_MsoNormal">"I was studying at Bath University, where
there is a specially designed track for the skeleton and bob
sleigh. I was curious, so I took myself along to have a go with the
squad; I happened to be pretty good and was asked to train with the
team properly. It all started from there."
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What do you love most about the skeleton bob?
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">"The speed and the adrenaline - and how far
you push yourself. How fast can you go? How strong can you get?
Then there's the competitive side of the sport: can you do it when
it counts? I do miss competing. I wanted to be the very best I
could be and I didn't stop until I'd done that."
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Is it true that you hate the cold?
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">"It's true! I can't stand the cold. My
fingers turn blue and they're really painful. When I was
training I'd be in lots of layers and topped up with hot
drinks. There was a lot of running on the spot and impromptu
press-ups to keep warm."
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
Which female athletes inspire you?
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Paula Radcliffe - who comes back injury
after injury and just keeps going - is a huge inspiration. One of
my first sporting memories is of Sally Gunnel winning the 400m
hurdles at the Barcelona Olympics in 1994. I remember watching her
on the podium and feeling very emotional. Watching anyone win
anything - standing there with the Union Jack and the National
Anthem playing - that really inspires me.
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
How can we can get more women involved in sport?
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">"It's a catch-22 situation. Until we see
more women's sport on the TV and in the back pages of the
newspapers, it's going to be hard. As a female athlete the lack of
coverage can be frustrating. When you look at our female sports
teams - whether it's cricket, football, or rugby - they're going
out and winning things, sometimes more than their male
counterparts, and yet they're not getting the coverage. I think
it's up to the newspapers editors and TV channel bosses to make a
change: someone's got to make the first move."
<p class="x_MsoNormal">
<p class="x_MsoNormal">*Amy is presenting The Gadget Show Live
this April at the Birmingham NEC. For tickets go to www.gadgetshowlive.net*
<p class="x_MsoNormal">Follow GLAMOUR's campaign on Twitter @GlamourMagSport
