Lizzy Yarnold: 'Denise Lewis inspired me to compete'

Great Britain skeleton racer Lizzy Yarnold has revealed that watching Denise Lewis compete in the Sydney Olympics in 2000 inspired her to become a sportswoman.

Lewis won gold in the heptathlon in Sydney and the 25-year-old is hoping to follow her example when she competes in the skeleton event in Sochi.

She told reporters: "I think I wanted to become an Olympian when I watched the 2000 Games when Denise Lewis competed in heptathlon.

"I think I just wanted to emulate her and when I came to skeleton at 19 I've just loved everything about it and I wanted to get better and better. Now I'm an Olympian and that means the dream came true for me."

Yarnold will get her campaign underway on Thursday after a promising showing during practice.