A 19-year-old little girl filled in the talent ID form way back and hit the send button on the email. Little did she know that it would take her on an incredible journey of fame and fulfillment. Pursuing one of the most unique sports, skeleton, the probability of succeeding was quite low. But she did not flinch. Putting in the hard work day in and day out, this athlete traveled the world taking part in almost 100 international races. She also qualified for a couple of Olympic events and to top it all off, went on to win an Olympic medal. And now, as the athlete is 36 years old, she has made a monumental decision.
So who is this athlete we are talking about? Well, it is none other than the skeleton athlete, Laura Deas. Competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, the Briton won a bronze medal. Sharing the podium with her good friend Lizzy Yarnold, Deas made history. She and her friend became the first British duo to get on the same podium in a Winter Olympics game. Her last Olympic appearance came in Beijing, in 2022. Finishing 19th, Deas went on to miss the subsequent season due to her pregnancy. Deas last appeared at a 2023 World Cup Final race, where she won the silver medal. And now, at 36, Deas wants to take a backseat and enjoy her favorite sport from the sidelines!
“So this is it- the end of the skeleton athlete chapter of my life.” Taking to social media, Deas explained how the sport has given her a lot of fond memories. She also pointed out that it was skeleton that made her cross paths with her husband, and later her daughter. Speaking about her sport, Deas termed it as something that put an athlete to the ultimate test. “One of the most magical and testing things about skeleton is that it utterly exposes you, both as an athlete and as a person. Out on the ice there is nowhere to hide,” wrote Deas. She also mentioned how staying away from the adrenaline rush is something that might never be replaced. But Deas would want to find a way to make peace with the feeling.
So this is it- the end of the skeleton athlete chapter of my life pic.twitter.com/091kYkNyQX
— Laura Deas OLY (@skeletonlaura) April 28, 2025
Coming to her acknowledgment, the 36-year-old thanked all the one who have supported her. Deas also mentioned how she was thankful towards her teammates for supporting her through the thick and thins of her career. “To my teammates -@ for the endless hours of camaraderie and friendship, thank you. We showed the world that it was possible to be both teammates and rivals, competitors and friends and I’ll miss you all,” wrote Deas. Lastly, acknowledging her family for making her believe in her abilities to pursue her dreams, Deas signed off her retirement note. Meanwhile, speaking with Olympics.com, Laura Deas made a surprising statement.
Laura Deas trades the skeleton track for motherhood in a bold new chapter
Laura Deas is stepping away from the icy tracks of skeleton. And she is looking forward to a new chapter, one filled with the joys and challenges of motherhood. The 36-year-old PyeongChang 2018 bronze medallist, who once made history for Team GB, now finds herself driven by a different kind of goal — nurturing her one-year-old daughter. “Since having her, I’ve taken some time to think and just realised that my priorities have shifted a little bit,” Deas shared with Olympics.com, sounding at peace with the decision that has gradually unfolded.
Reflecting on her 15-year career, Laura admitted retirement wasn’t part of a rigid plan but rather a natural shift. She stated, “I haven’t necessarily planned this down to the last degree… It’s actually given me a new appreciation for the sport.” While skeleton shaped much of her life, Deas embraces this transition with gratitude rather than regret, even hinting that the pull of the sport might lure her back in some form. For now, though, her competitive edge is channeled elsewhere, as she joyfully steps aside to make way for Team GB’s next generation of Olympians.
Looking ahead, Laura Deas is buoyed by optimism, not just for her own future but for women’s sport as a whole. “It’s a fantastic time for women in sport,” she reflected, being eager to see her daughter grow up amid such inspiring momentum.
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