Tuesday 22 September 2015 14:09, UK
Lizzy Yarnold says she is taking a break from the sport she loves to be in the best position to defend her skeleton title at the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang.
After completing a Grand Slam of Olympic, European and World titles in the last two years, Yarnold announced last week she will not compete this season after feeling exhausted and emotionally fatigued.
"It was quite a brave decision to tell my team and the other athletes that I was suffering a bit," Yarnold told Tuesday's Sportswomen show on Sky Sports News HQ.
"There were lots of tears. It was really difficult to admit I couldn't keep going at an unrelenting high level of performance and that I needed to step back, have a little time to myself and replenish my energy.
"I think I was most worried about carrying on and not being able to compete well and compete at the highest level.
"My dream is Pyeongchang and that is still three years away, so I'm really lucky there is enough time and when I spoke to my team and my coaches they were all really supportive.
"I love the sport of skeleton and I didn't want to retire or walk away from the sport in an unhappy situation when I know I have more to give. I think I've also given a lot to the sport of skeleton and really hope I can continue and continue to be successful."
Yarnold, who is set to get married next spring, admits the last few months have been a real eye-opener.
"Lots of people don't realise that even though skeleton is a winter sport you're still training over the summer at least six days a week, three times every day," she added.
"It's not just the physical training, it's the technical stuff and things like working with psychologists and nutritionists. You're pretty busy as an athlete and training is so tough.
"There are so many good times but you have to go through the tough stuff to make yourself a better athlete. Every day you are asking a lot of yourself.
"The main thing I've learnt and the message I have for other athletes is know yourself, know exactly how you like to work, and if you're finding it a bit tough, be open with your team about it and try to get ahead of the game.
"Don't get to the point when you're in tears. I was pretty tearful and that's when I went to my coaches, so my message is to be ahead of that and be proactive about it."
