Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold to take break

Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold has announced she is to take a season-long break from competition - but will return to the track in time to mount a defence of her title in Pyeongchang in 2018.

Yarnold, who claimed gold for Great Britain in Sochi in 2014, has already made history this year by completing the career 'Grand Slam' of skeleton titles.

She will continue to train in the UK throughout the coming season before returning to the sport with the aim of becoming the first-ever British Winter Olympian to defend her title.

"I'm really pleased my coaching team and I have decided that I should remain in the UK this season," said Yarnold.

"Coming off the back of my win in Sochi it was hard to re-motivate myself, but I had the Grand Slam in my sights and wanted so desperately to be world champion that it saw me through.

"It wasn't until I returned home that I realised I was emotionally fatigued - more than the usual end-of-season exhaustion - so I asked my team if we could approach this year differently.

"Naturally I would have loved to defend my world title this year, and it will be hard to watch others compete without me, but I really feel like this is the right time for me to refresh, take stock and come back even more motivated for the future."

Yarnold, who was runner-up in the Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswomen of the Year Awards in 2014, began her skeleton career in 2008 and was awarded an MBE for services to sport in June of last year.

She insists she has no intention of letting her standards slip during her break from competition and is confident she can return to the circuit better than ever before.

"I have a training programme set for me over the winter so I will still be working hard even though I won't be on the circuit," Yarnold said. "I won't be putting my feet up and relaxing, unfortunately!

"I'd like to thank my coaches, the British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association (BBSA), UK Sport and the National Lottery for their ongoing support - it is great to know they have faith in my ability and in my motivation as an athlete to know what I need to do to get my body and mind fit for the next Olympic cycle."

The BBSA is fully behind Yarnold's decision, with performance director Andi Schmid in no doubt that the move will bring rewards when she returns to competition.

"We fully support Lizzy's desire to take a season off from competing," said Schmid. "UK Sport are aware of the decision and we are very grateful for their continued support.

"Lizzy has already achieved some amazing things in her career and I am sure there is plenty more still to come. She has worked incredibly hard to reach the top of the world since joining the British Skeleton Programme seven years ago and taking a season away from competing will help her recharge her batteries and come back refreshed and ready to kick on in the lead up to Pyeongchang.

"Although Lizzy won't be competing this season, she will still be training hard from the UK. We have worked closely with Lizzy to devise a training schedule that will see her return to the team in the best possible shape next summer."