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Double Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold has knee surgery

By Reuters

Friday 23 March 2018 11:06, UK

Team GB's Lizzy Yarnold poses with her skeleton gold medals from the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games
Image: Team GB's Lizzy Yarnold poses with her skeleton gold medals from the Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Winter Games

Double Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold has had knee surgery to treat a rare genetic joint disease, the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association have confirmed.

Yarnold, who became the first Briton to successfully defend a Winter Olympic title when she claimed skeleton gold at this year's Games in Pyeongchang, is on crutches but should return to training in a few weeks.

The 29-year-old was diagnosed with pigmented villonodular synovitis (PVNS) in November, two months before the Winter Olympics in South Korea.

PYEONGCHANG-GUN, SOUTH KOREA - FEBRUARY 17: Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain reacts as she finishes her final run during the Women's Skeleton on day eight o
Image: Yarnold became the first Briton to successful defend a Winter Olympic title

"The operation went well which is great and I'm pleased to have got it out of the way," she said.

"It's a bit strange being at home resting and using crutches takes a bit of getting used to, but no excuse now not to catch up on my admin."

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PVNS causes the tissue lining a person's joints and tendons to thicken and overgrow, and Yarnold was advised by specialists she could wait until the end of the season before having the minor operation needed to fix the problem.

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