In a candid interview, former Team GB cyclist Vicky Williamson has opened up about her extraordinary journey, from the devastating crash that nearly ended her Olympic dreams to her remarkable comeback and subsequent transition to bobsleigh. The 32-year-old sprinter, hailing from Hevingham, Norfolk, was on track for the Rio 2016 Olympics when a horrific velodrome accident left her with a fractured neck, a dislocated pelvis, and a slipped disc – narrowly avoiding paralysis.
Williamson’s story is one of unwavering determination and resilience. “It’s been a lot to take in – those that have been in my position know when it’s time to switch career, there’s a lot of emotions,” she reflected. The loss of identity and uncertainty about the future were just some of the challenges she faced as she worked tirelessly to regain her fitness and return to elite competition.
Remarkably, Williamson made her comeback to track cycling just 752 days after the crash, going on to compete in the World Cup and World Championships in 2019. However, her dreams of competing in the Tokyo 2021 Olympics were dashed due to circumstances beyond her control. “I always knew I wanted to get back on the bike, when that’s no longer there it’s like ‘who am I now and where do I want to take my life, given that strict one goal has now gone?'” she explained.
It was then that Williamson stumbled across an opportunity in a completely different sport – bobsleigh. She was offered a spot on the GB bobsleigh team and went on to compete in the König ee IBSF World Cup, five years to the day from her life-changing accident. “It was quite a mad twist of fate or luck that I had seen this advert and ended up in bobsleigh, so I don’t know if bobsleigh found me or I found bobsleigh,” she recalled with a laugh.
Despite her success in bobsleigh, Williamson’s heart remained with cycling. She took a three-month break from bobsleighing to make one last push for a spot on the national cycling team for the Paris Olympics, but unfortunately fell just short of her goal.
Now, Williamson has stepped away from elite competition, but not from sport altogether. She has found a new passion in teaching Reformer Pilates and working as a functional fitness coach. “I’m in a place now where it marked 10 years [since the accident] and I thought it was the perfect time to close that chapter and for me to announce the next chapter of my life,” she said.
Williamson’s story is a testament to the power of resilience and the importance of finding purpose beyond the confines of a single sport. As she continues to inspire others with her journey, her legacy extends far beyond the cycling track or the bobsleigh run.
