Whiplash Injury Ends Laura Deas’ World Title Hopes

Laura Deas will miss the Skeleton World Championships in Whistler after suffering an injury in the team competition earlier this week.

Wales’ Olympic bronze medal winner in PyeongChang last February sustained a whiplash type injury in the combined bobsleigh and skeleton event in the early hours of Monday morning.

Management of the injury is ongoing but Deas has been forced to withdraw from the individual competition in Canada this Thursday and Friday.

“I’m obviously hugely disappointed to be missing the World Championships. It’s the biggest event of the season and it’s something that has been in my sights since the Olympics in South Korea,” said Deas.

“I wanted to come here and perform like I did in PyeongcChang so not to be able to do that is a big blow.”

British Skeleton’s Interim Performance Director, Natalie Dunman said: “We all share Laura’s disappointment that she won’t be racing this week.

“During the team race, Laura suffered a whiplash type injury that we are continuing to manage.

“Athlete health and wellbeing is of upmost importance to everyone here at British Skeleton and, while this is the showpiece race of the year, we don’t believe it is in Laura’s best interests to try and return to sliding in time to compete this week.”

Deas missed the fifth World Cup race of the season in St Moritz in January with illness but the injury is unrelated.

The first two heats of the men’s skeleton begin at 5pm GMT on Thursday, with the women’s race following at 8.30pm. The final two runs of both races take place 24 hours later.

Jerry Rice, Jack Thomas, Marcus Wyatt, Ashleigh Pittaway and Madelaine Smith will race for GB.

IBSF World Championships in Whistler, Canada

British Skeleton squads:

Men: Jerry Rice, Jack Thomas, Marcus Wyatt
Women: Ashleigh Pittaway, Madelaine Smith

Skeleton race schedule (all times are GMT)

Thurs 7 Mar
Men’s Skeleton 5pm
Women’s Skeleton 8.30pm

Fri 8 Mar
Men’s Skeleton 5pm
Women’s Skeleton 8.30pm