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University graduate Lizzy Yarnold named as Team GB flagbearer

​Defending skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold MBE will carry the Great Britain flag at the opening ceremony of the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.

The 29-year-old, who graduated from the University with a degree in BSc Geography and Sport and Exercise Sciences, was selected by her GB team-mates for the honour when the 23rd Games open in South Korea on Friday (9 February).

Yarnold is aiming to become the first Briton to defend a Winter Olympic title when she competes at Alpensia Sliding Centre on 16 and 17 February, having won Olympic Gold four years ago in Sochi.

Lizzy first received an Elite Scholarship in 2007 for being a multi discipline track and field athlete, but then got involved in the sport by responding to an advert for UK Sport’s Girls4Gold talent identification campaign while at the University of Gloucestershire. She was one of 1,500 national standard sportswomen who attended the initial testing, of which 120 were selected for Skeleton and subsequently whittled down to 10.

Lizzy Yarnold will be competing in the women’s skeleton heats which start on Friday 16 February and will conclude on 17 February with the final heat and gold medal being decided from 12:30 UK time.