Shelly Rudman welcomed home to village

[richard]

More than 7,000 people in tiny Pewsey welcomed home Olympic silver medallist Shelley Rudman.

She paraded through the streets of the Wiltshire village on an open-top bus after her success in the Skeleton.

Ms Rudman, 24, practises the sport at Bath University, which sees competitors speeding down an ice track on a one-person sled.

She told reporters at the parade: "I can't believe it. This is worse than my race for being unreal!"

She added: "I'm still thinking exactly the same way as when I finished my race, it's a crazy time. I just came home with something special, that's all. I never expected such a massive response."

Silver slider

Ms Rudman, accompanied by fellow Olympian and boyfriend Kristan Bromley, made her way to a reception at the Moonrakers Pub, where locals helped raised £3,000 to send her on her way to victory.

Landlord Jerry Kunkler was so delighted by her success that he put on a free bar.

Included in the drinks was real ale brewed especially for the day by Wadworth's of nearby Devizes - Shelley's Silver Slider.

He said: "This is Pewsey's way of saying thank you to Shelley for all she's done for the village and for her country."

Shelley's parents, Jack, 53, and Josephine, 58, said the parade had left them shell-shocked.

"I'm a bit stunned to be honest, but this is the best moment for us because this is the reality, all these people coming here for our daughter," said Josephine.

Jack added: "I told her 'try everything you can' like we always have and she went off and did it. The next thing we knew she was representing Great Britain."


Source
bbc.co.uk

Image: Shelley Rudman - Shelley was welcomed home by thousands of people in Pewsey

[richard]

Village erupts for return of Olympic hero

A sleepy country village today erupted in a frenzy of confetti, cheers and Olympic glory as silver medallist Shelley Rudman took a victory tour through the streets.

As an open top bus bearing Ms Rudman and her supporters wound its way around Pewsey in Wiltshire, Ms Rudman, who slid to second place in the skeleton at the Turin Winter Olympics last month, was greeted as a hero by childhood friends.

An estimated 7,000 people, both local and from further afield, lined the way as Ms Rudman, accompanied by fellow Olympian and boyfriend Kristan Bromley, made her way to a reception at the Moonrakers Pub, where locals helped raised £3,000 to send her on her way to victory.

There landlord Jerry Kunkler was so delighted by her success that he put on a free bar.

Included in the drinks was real ale brewed especially for the day by Wadworth's of Devizes - Shelley's Silver Slider.

He said: "This is Pewsey's way of saying thank you to Shelley for all she's done for the village and for her country."

Surrounded by an army of fans, photographers and cameramen, Ms Rudman's parents Jack, 53, and Josephine, 58, looked as shell-shocked as their daughter had initially been to discover she had become a celebrity overnight.

"I'm a bit stunned to be honest, but this is the best moment for us because this is the reality, all these people coming here for our daughter," said Josephine.

When his daughter first told him of her ambition to take up the unusual sport, Jack said he was supportive.

He said: "I told her 'try everything you can' like we always have and she went off and did it. The next thing we knew she was representing Great Britain."

Emerging from the throng of well-wishers with red, white and blue tickertape still in her hair, Ms Rudman, 24, said: "I'm still thinking exactly the same way as when I finished my race, it's a crazy time. I just came home with something special, that's all. I never expected such a massive response."

For Mr Bromley, 33, who was placed fifth in the men's event, his girlfriend's victory is bittersweet.

He said: "My proudest moment was probably after my own race. I was standing by the track feeling rock bottom but then I looked up at the TV and they were showing the moment Shelley came through and it lifted me straight from the floor. I am so proud of her."

But Ms Rudman insists: "A lot of people don't realise how involved with my programme Kristan is, in terms of the training and the support he gives me. To have him here is everything.

"This is a victory for both of us."


Source
dailymail.co.uk

Image: Shelley soaks up the applause on her Olympic parade

[ian]

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