MELKSHAM’s skeleton athlete Laura Deas has high hopes of bringing home a medal from this month’s Winter Olympics.
Here she talks to Melksham News ahead of her trip to Pyeongchang in Korea.
How do you feel about your selection?
“I’m really excited, we got to go to a ‘kit out’ recently, which is where we were able to try on our Olympic kit and take it home, so it’s beginning to feel very real. I’m really looking forward to going to Korea and hope to give my best performance.”
What are your hopes for the games?
“I ultimately would love to win a medal, to be honest I would be disappointed if i don’t come home with one. I’m an athlete and it’s the competitive nature in me to get on that podium and the Olympics is no different.”
How do you think the Olympics differs from your World Cup events?
“The Olympics are a massive global event, the biggest event in the sporting calendar. I’m looking forward to being in the environment and hope it will inspire me to put in my best-ever performance. The feeling of being in the Olympics will be nothing I’ve ever felt before and I don’t want it to be a distraction, but i also want to use it and enjoy it – it’s all about finding the balance.”
You have a lot of communities supporting you, here in Melksham, back home in Wrexham and also from your team in Bath – how important is that?
“It makes a huge difference knowing there are people out there supporting you. I have had so many messages of congratulations after my selection was announced. Everyone at home is super excited. As an athlete it’s great to be inspiring local people to be engaged with sport, even at small local levels. Even if they are just tuning in and watching the Winter Olympics, it is a platform for us to use to inspire people to eat healthy, or do more exercise.”
You travel around the world a lot, what is the one item you cannot leave the house without?
“On a practical level, I would have to say a travel kettle so I can have a nice cup of tea, there is nothing better! Also, as an athlete we are always looking for a quick meal, so having the travel kettle helps me to make meals with hot water.
“On a less practical level, I love to take a scented candle, to take with me a bit of home, make the stay away that bit more homely for me.
“Finally, Thank you to the people of Melksham for getting behind me. I will try my best to make you all proud and bring you back a medal.”
The Winter Olympics kicks off on Thursday 8th February with a few events and the opening ceremony will be on Friday 9th February. Laura will aim to impress at the women’s skeleton heat one and two events taking place on Friday 16th February, with the final heats 3 and 4 following on Saturday 17th February.
Good luck to Laura from all of us at Melksham Independent News and the residents of Melksham.
