Winter Olympic medallist Laura Deas retires from skeleton
The Wrexham-born slider finished third in South Korea as Great Britain secured two medals, with Deas sharing the podium with Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold.
The 36-year-old finished 19th at the next Games in Beijing before missing the 2023-24 season to give birth to a daughter.
But having attempted a return to World Cup racing, Deas has now called time on her career, with her final race a silver-medal winning slide at a World Cup event in Latvia in 2023.
"Immediately after the Beijing Olympics, I wanted to at least do one more season because I didn't want to leave the sport on that note because they (the Beijing Games) hadn't gone so well," Deas told BBC Radio Wiltshire.
"So I definitely knew that I had at least one more season in me from that point onwards.
"But in my head, it was quite an open-ended situation. I didn't really have a hard end point in mind, and I think partly that was because I didn't really want to approach any race knowing for sure that it was going to be the last time I ever stepped on ice. Because the thing about our sport, really, is that there's no way to just do it recreationally.
'I managed to win a medal [at her last race], which was a lovely sign off. So I was thinking, 'well, if this is the last time I set foot on ice, what a nice way to do it'.'
Deas had combined with Matt Weston to secure team silver at the World Championships in St Moritz earlier in 2023.
Her Olympic bronze medal continued Team GB's outstanding record in the skeleton since the women's event was added to the Winter Games in 2002.
Alex Coomber and Shelley Rudman secured bronze and silver respectively in 2002 and 2006, before Amy Williams kicked off a run of three consecutive Olympic champions from Great Britain in 2010 with Yarnold securing back-to-back successes.
Weston, meanwhile, is tracking well ahead of the men's event at Milan-Cortina Olympics next year, securing back-to-back overall World Cup wins.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Mail
28 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Ravens fan Michael Phelps agrees to teach Baltimore players to swim as a third of the team admits they can't
Unable to hire an actual fish or the fictional Aquaman to teach Ravens players to swim, team officials have turned to their next best option: 28-time Olympic medalist and diehard Baltimore fan Michael Phelps. The legendary swimmer and Olympian agreed Wednesday to teaching Baltimore's roster the finer points of moving through the water after Ravens cornerback Marlon Humphrey enlisted his help online. Noting the team's new pool and the fact that a third of Ravens players are unable to swim, Humphrey posted a video online with the caption: 'Hey @MichaelPhelps we need your help!!' 'Hey Mr. Phelps, we have a problem,' left tackle Ronnie Staley said at the beginning of the clip while standing in the pool in front of a line of teammates. Staley then dove to his right in the manner of a synchronized swimmer to reveal Ravens safety Kyle Hamilton standing behind him. 'Did you know that 1 in 3 Ravens cannot swim,' Hamilton said before diving to his left. Hey @MichaelPhelps we need your help!! From the #RavensAquaticsTeam — (@marlon_humphrey) July 29, 2025 Humphrey then offered a solution to Phelps: 'Come to this aquatic center and teach us how to swim.' Phelps, naturally, obliged, responding on Instagram: 'I got yall!!! Let's do it!!' A graduate of nearby Towson High School who swam for the North Baltimore Aquatic Club, Phelps is now a mental health advocate and businessman, who spends a lot of time with his wife, Nicole, and their four sons. While many can't even remember learning to swim in their youths, many Americans reach adulthood without ever learning the skill. The American Red Cross estimated in 2022 that around half off all US citizens are unable to swim at a basic level. Back in 2020, Senegalese Boston Celtics center Tacko Fall publicly addressed his inability to swim with a series of social media videos and some classes at a local Boys Club.
BBC News
an hour ago
- BBC News
New signing Mullin reminiscent of myself
Wigan Athletic boss Ryan Lowe has likened new signing Paul Mullin to himself following the striker's move last 30, joined the Latics on a season-long loan from Wrexham, where he helped gain three successive promotions to take the club from the National League to the Championship in a meteoric rise and cement himself in club Mullin's influence on the pitch dwindled last season and he did not feature for The Red Dragons in the league after January."You only have to look at his record, he's scored 200 career goals and I see a little bit of resemblance to myself in Mulls because of what he's done and where he's come from at non-league right up to the Championship," Lowe told BBC Radio Manchester."Unfortunately, Wrexham wanted to go a different route and he's still contracted to them and we knew we could potentially get him in on loan."It was the first time I'd met him even though we live very close to each other. I did try and sign him at Plymouth a few years ago but he ended up going to Wrexham." Lowe, scorer of over 200 career goals during an 18-year playing career in his own right, also praised Mullin for his hunger in dropping down a division in order to play more first-team football this season."When there's a goal-scorer like that, of that ilk, it's important that I make sure I act on that and to be fair to Mulls with the conversation I had, there was only one club he wanted to come to and that was us."He could have sat on the bench at Wrexham and made some cameos but he's chose to come here and hopefully score loads of goals."Lowe also said he believes highly-rated 23-year-old goalkeeper Sam Tickle will be staying with the Latics for the upcoming season despite speculation linking him with a move away from the Brick Community Stadium."We've had no enquiries on Sam, there's a lot of interest and talk but we've had no official bids or anything that have come our way," Lowe added."Last season he was voted the best goalkeeper in the division. My challenge to Sam is go and do that again and be the best that he can be."I think Sam and I know that he's definitely going to be here for another year, he'll help where we want to get to and then if that's the case, he will probably go on to somewhere bigger and better and grace the Premier League."One more season with us will definitely help him."Wigan begin their League One campaign at home to Northampton Town on Saturday.
Glasgow Times
an hour ago
- Glasgow Times
Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games organisers reveal schedule
Organisers have unveiled the official session schedule for the 10-day sporting event, which will run from July 23 to August 2. The Games will feature 3000 athletes from 74 nations and territories, competing across 10 sports and six para sports. Glasgow 2026 unveils session schedule (Image: Supplied) Read more: Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games mascot revealed as unicorn with nod to city landmarks Phil Batty OBE, chief executive of Glasgow 2026, said: 'Glasgow 2026 will be an incredible Games. 'From the very first session to the last, Glasgow 2026 will deliver stand-out moments to packed venues, creating sporting memories for spectators across the Commonwealth. 'Today's session schedule sets out the biggest para sport medal programme in Commonwealth Games history. 'Fans can expect unforgettable drama, fierce rivalries and the kind of sporting magic that only the Commonwealth Games can deliver.' Katie Sadleir CZNM, chief executive of Commonwealth Sport, said: 'The release of the Sport Schedule is another exciting milestone for Glasgow 2026, which will deliver an unforgettable celebration showcasing the best of the Commonwealth's athletes. 'This refreshed and focused programme reflects the evolving spirit of the Games – more inclusive, more events in many sports, and just as inspiring.' The opening day of competition on July 24 will make history, with the first medal of the Games to be awarded in para powerlifting – the first time a para sport has opened the medal tally at a Commonwealth Games. Additional medals will be decided that evening in artistic gymnastics, swimming and para swimming. The games will feature expanded programmes in several sports, including bowls and para bowls running across all 10 days – the longest schedule for the sport since Delhi 2010. There will be three extra sessions for 3x3 basketball and 3x3 wheelchair basketball when compared to Birmingham 2022. Meanwhile, the swimming programme will be the largest ever at a Commonwealth Games, including the men's 800m freestyle and women's 1500m freestyle for the first time. The opening weekend will see netball take centre stage, with six sports on display across July 25 and 26, including bowls, boxing and weightlifting. Athletics and paralympic athletics will begin on July 27, with Scotstoun Stadium hosting six days of competition. Track cycling and para track cycling will take over the Sir Chris Hoy Velodrome from July 30, featuring the elimination race for the first time in Games history. Super Saturday on August 1 will offer a packed day of finals in athletics, boxing, judo and cycling. The largest Paralympic sport medal programme in Commonwealth history is inspiring young athletes like Amy (Image: Supplied) Read more: New Glasgow pickleball club set to open next month The Games will close on August 2, with the last medal expected to be awarded in either judo or track cycling and para track cycling. Jack Carlin, Olympic, Commonwealth, European and world medallist in track cycling, said: 'Glasgow 2026 is going to be amazing and today's announcement of the session schedule has shown just how packed a programme it will be across all 10 sports. 'Pulling on a Scotland jersey is always special, and for the Scottish riders to get the chance to compete in a Scottish vest on a home track, in front of a home crowd, is extra special. It's going to be brilliant.' Olivia Breen, reigning Commonwealth T38 100m champion, said: 'I am so excited for Glasgow 2026 as it is a huge moment for paralympic sport, with the largest medal programme in Commonwealth history, with 47 medals available across six sports.'
