News: Shelley Rudman becomes World Cup champion

After three years of finishing as runner-up, Great British slider, Shelley Rudman has won the Viessmann FIBT Skeleton World Cup with support from Rotherham based Bromley Technologies.

Rudman finished joint third in the final round of the 2011/2012 World Cup season in Calgary, Canada, despite injuring her back earlier in the week.

The fifth podium placing of the season saw her finish with 1,507 points, overtaking Germany's Marion Thees in the overall standings to take the crown for the first time in her career.

Fellow Brit and World junior champion, Lizzy Yarnold won the race, her second World Cup win of the season with Thees down in 10th.

Originally from Pewsey, Wiltshire, Shelley made her debut in the World Cup in 2004 and won a silver medal in the Turin Winter Olympics in 2006. She has now become only the second British female slider to win the World Cup crown, following Alex Coomber in 2002.

Shelley's partner, Kristan Bromley won the World Cup title twice, in 2004 and 2008. He finished this season in seventh place overall.

Bromley Technologies specialises in athlete-focused engineering technology, with its state-of-the-art test facility that helps finesse sporting talent.

They supply Shelley and Kristan and 24 nations from their base at the Advanced Manufacturing Park in Rotherham. Over the past few years their Team GB skeleton athletes have secured over 20 World cup medals.

Shelley Rudman, FIBT World Cup champion, said: "I really, really wanted to win bad this year. I'm so happy to have achieved one of my goals since starting the sport.

"I still can't believe it. I'm World Cup champion!"

The Fulwood resident dedicated the win to her Mum and her Dad who is now fully fit after suffering a brain haemorrhage last year.

The athletes now head to Lake Placid for the World Championships next week.

Shelley Rudman website

Images: Kristan Bromley / twitter