Olympic reflections: Laura Deas
Laura Deas interview: “For our programme it’s all about winning Olympic medals so I was happy to prove that the investment in us was well spent.”
Skeleton star Laura Deas is back on Planet Earth, having ensured Team GB shared two thirds of the podium at Pyeongchang’s Alpensia Sliding Centre. She finished third (0.07 seconds behind silver medallist Jacquiline Loelling and 0.62 seconds behind her friend and team mate Lizzy Yarnold, who secured her second consecutive Olympic title) with a performance that demonstrated the Wrexham-born slider had a place on the world stage.
While the pre-Games hopes of a nation lay heavily on Lizzy’s shoulders – might she retain the Olympic title accomplished at Sochi? – there was a rapidly evolving clamour that Laura might emerge from Pyeongchang with a medal of her own. Never mind what the nation expects though: Laura’s Olympic campaign was already steeped in pressure thanks to her own aspirations.
“I went in with the aim of winning a medal,” she says. “I said before that if I came away without one I would be disappointed and that’s definitely true! I wasn’t sure how overwhelming I’d find the Olympic environment but actually I found it really inspiring and I think that helped me be really focused when it came to competition.”
With multiple podium finishes on the World Cup circuit and a world ranking of sixth heading into her first Olympic Games, Laura’s ambitions were justified.
As much as she subscribed to her own aspirations though, the reality of winning that Olympic bronze was another sensation entirely.
“It was an unbelievable moment of joy and relief – especially because Lizzy was there too and we were both so overjoyed for each other. It was the fairytale ending to our Olympic campaign – we both knew we could win medals but for it to actually come together on the day like that was unreal – it took a long while to sink in that we’d made history together and we’d been part of a ‘super Saturday’.”
For all those involved in the Winter Olympics, in any Olympics, there is an inevitable return to earth after the curtain falls on the closing ceremony. I can only wonder that, after an athlete’s maiden Games and a medal to boot, that landing must be near-concussive.
Unless you don’t really land at all.
“I’m not sure yet!” Laura says when I ask how the Olympics has changed her life. “I’ve had so many messages, especially from young people, that I’ve inspired them and that feels pretty amazing. I’m definitely enjoying the pressure being off my shoulders and having time to do other things besides training! And I’m also enjoying planning my forthcoming wedding.”
If it sounds like the fairytale ending to a stellar season there’s good reason for it. Because while Laura’s personal outlook is set fair, the future of the sport she’s made her own is equally bright. Having previously interviewed bobsleigh ladies Mica Moore and Mica McNeill, I’ve seen the issue of budget constraints displayed in sharp relief (the pair had to self-fund their pre-Olympic qualifying season). Results are everything and medals are worth more than their weight in gold, silver or bronze. With that in mind, the significance of team GB’s double podium finish was anything but inconsequential.
“I think it was important to show that we could deliver results at the highest level – for our programme it’s all about winning Olympic medals so I was happy to prove that the investment in us was well spent.” And it wasn’t just the current crop of team GB’s sliders that it mattered to: “We have a fantastically talented squad of young athletes who are the future of our sport so I’m excited to see how they progress in the next few years.”
In the more immediate future though Laura, and of course Lizzy, look to have a firm foothold on skeleton competition. Lizzy has two Olympic golds to complement her World Championship, European Championship and World Cup titles. She is skeleton’s leading lady. Nevertheless, or perhaps because of that, I can’t help but wonder about the pressure on Laura to usurp her friend and team mate some day.
“I’m not feeling that at the moment,” she assures me. “But I’m very competitive so as soon as I’m back competing I’ll want to be consistently on that podium!”
As an aspiring athlete that might be where you see yourself one day: on a podium. Maybe you’ve even got a specific podium in mind. Take caution, though, against defining your goals too much.
“I’d say to do something you enjoy to the best of your ability and don’t specialize too early,” Laura advises. “I did several sports at a fairly high level until I was selected for skeleton at 20 and it definitely gave me a good skill set and plenty of experience, so don’t panic if you don’t think you’ve found your sport yet. Also, register your interest with UK Sport’s Talent ID scheme, there’s one running now called ‘Discover Your Gold’.”
So there it is, from an unequivocal source; If you’ve got the drive, why not see if you’ve got the tools.
My grateful thanks to Laura for her time, especially now that our Olympic medallist is planning her wedding! For all the latest on team GB’s bronze medallist go to the following feeds:
Laura Deas Twitter: @skeletonlaura
Laura Deas Instagram: @skeleton_laura_gb
Laura Deas Facebook: /skeletonlaura
Related article: Mica Moore