• Winter Olympics

'Amazed' Williams returns home

At an otherwise low-key reception for the returning British team, Williams was understandably the centre of attention. "I don't think I've still got a sentence to describe it," she said. "I can't really believe it is real but this [press conference] is making it real by the second. To have [the gold medal] around my neck and touching it is everything that dreams ever existed of."

Asked if her success had attracted sponsors, she admitted "as yet nobody has approached me", adding: "I'm going to try and find the right people to look after me. I want to make the most of this opportunity. I hope people will sponsor and help out and help the sport. It would be great for the sport to get my face around. The gold medal has been a life-changing experience in that I'm now speaking to the media.

"But ultimately we're athletes - we train hard and work hard. We go to the gym every day, slide down slopes and travel the world."

There have been immediate perks - Williams was upgraded on the return flight from Canada - and today she will be on the receiving end of a civic reception in Bath. "I am looking forward to getting back there," she smiled. "Bringing the medal back to my friends and family and showing it off to them."

She was also keen to look to the future after an otherwise disappointing Games for Britain. "We were a strong team in Vancouver - everyone got personal bests and that's the main thing. For most of us it was our first time at an Olympics. The younger ones need time to learn. Other sports don't have the solid programme that maybe skeleton has and that we've worked over the years to get. With more support a few of these young athletes, now that they've been to one Games, will have better experience ahead of the next one."

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