The lasting legacy created by Skeleton Winter Olympian

World Skeleton champion Shelley Rudman was the star of Team GB Winter Olympics back in 2006 when she was the only one to return with a medal, creating a fever in her Wiltshire village which is still felt by some today.

As this year's Winter Olympics kicks off in northern Italy, Rudman said she would never have guessed the lasting legacy that bringing home the silver medal would have on Pewsey, where she was born and still lives.

Two streets are now named after her, Olympian Road and Silver Road, which she says makes her children very proud.

"It's a bit surreal, my children love the fact they are named after me," Rudman added.

Villagers were invested in her success from the start. They played a key role in fundraising to send her to Turin to compete on the ice, and still proudly remember their involvement.

One of them being Emma Dainton, who along with Colin Harris, canoed a 35-mile route from Pewsey to Bath along the Kennet and Avon Canal.

Emma said: "It was so quiet on the canal until a swan chased us for a while, and we joked about it and we cheered each other on."

During the Games, Emma was travelling in Australia and watched the heats on TV with her fellow backpackers.

"I told them all about Shelley and how I was part of her fundraising team and she was from my village," she added.

Back at home, nothing could prepare landlord Jerry Kunkler for the world's media and fans cramming into his Moonrakers pub.

"My phone kept ringing and ringing, all the local and national media wanted to come to the pub, it was all happening.

"I had to get up early for breakfast TV and was able to talk to Shelley live from Turin. It was a whirlwind," he added.

Following the Games, Shelley was greeted by a champion's welcome when she arrived home.

Local newspaper reporter Nigel Kerton organised an open-top bus parade to travel through the village.

Nigel recalls how he phoned a bus company to see if it was possible.

"I had a dream for this to happen. You see football teams do it after cup finals, so why not for Shelley.

"It left the train station and we could see the crowds building. There must have been thousands there," he added.

Shelley said she was in disbelief when she returned home and saw how many people had turned up to cheer her home.

"There were so many friends from school I recognised and just people I saw around the village," she said.

She added that she will always feel grateful to those that supported her and the strong community that Pewsey still has today.

"It is just stunning around here, there's a great community spirit. I always appreciate what they did for me," she added.

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