Rudman Raises Gb Medal Hopes

Shelley Rudman sparked hopes of claiming Great Britain’s first medal in Turin after going fastest in the final training run for tomorrow’s women’s skeleton bobsleigh at Cesana Pariol.

Rudman beat reigning world champion Maya Pedersen into second place by 0.02seconds in the sixth run, building on previous positions including third and fourth.

The 24-year-old from the Wiltshire village of Pewsey is aiming to emulate Alex Coomber, who grabbed bronze in the same event at Salt Lake City four years ago.

Rudman proved she belonged in the big time with two fourth-place finishes on the World Cup circuit this season, including the event in St Moritz last month. And she clearly found the hair-raising Salt Lake City track to her liking after improving significantly on her first three practice runs when she placed seventh, 11th and seventh.

Rudman, the boyfriend of former World Cup champion Kristan Bromley, who races on Friday, is backed enthusiastically by the whole of her tiny home village. Pewsey set up its own ‘Shelley Rudman Supporters’ Group’ to fund Rudman’s push to qualify for the Olympics, and raised £4,000 with a canoe marathon.

Moments later British No2 Adam Pengilly came from nowhere to post the third fastest time in the sixth run of men’s training, with Bromley in sixth.