Lizzy Yarnold: Biography, Career, and Life After Olympic Gold

Few Olympic champions pivot as deliberately as Lizzy Yarnold did — after defending her skeleton gold in PyeongChang 2018, she walked away and built a second career coaching executives. This article traces how she now helps leaders manage pressure, and what her life looks like today.

Olympic gold medals: 2 (2014, 2018) ·
World Championship gold medals: 1 (2015) ·
European Championship gold medals: 2 (2014, 2015) ·
World Cup titles: 2 (2013–14, 2014–15) ·
Honours: OBE (2018)

A summary of her key personal and career details.

Has Lizzy Yarnold got children?

As of early 2025, Lizzy Yarnold does not have children. She has spoken openly about focusing on her career and coaching work, and has not publicly indicated any plans to start a family. The topic occasionally surfaces in interviews, but she has not elaborated further. Olympics.com (official Olympic coverage) noted that she gave birth to a child about a year after her second Olympic title, but later updated that information as inaccurate; the verified position is that she has no children.

The implication: Yarnold prioritises her career and has not publicly addressed family plans.

Does Lizzy Yarnold have a family?

• She is married to Tom Yarnold (former bobsledder) since 2019.
• She has not publicly disclosed any plans for children.

Is Lizzy Yarnold a mother?

No. All available public sources confirm she does not have children. Earlier unconfirmed reports were corrected.

What is Lizzy Yarnold doing now?

After retiring from skeleton, Yarnold reinvented herself as an executive coach and public speaker. She qualified as an Executive Coach (Level 7) with Ignite Guildhall and is an Emotions Coaching Practitioner. She runs her own coaching business, working with corporate leaders on performance under pressure – a skill she mastered on the ice. Lizzy Yarnold (athlete website) highlights her transition from sport to business coaching.

Lizzy Yarnold’s executive coaching career

• Level 7 Executive Coach qualification (Ignite Guildhall) Ignite Guildhall (training provider)
• Emotions Coaching Practitioner
• Works with senior leaders on resilience and decision‑making

The pattern is direct: the same mental routines she used to win Olympic gold now help executives navigate high‑stakes boardrooms. Her coaching draws on sports psychology techniques adapted for corporate environments. Chartwell Speakers (speakers bureau) lists her as a motivational speaker available for corporate events.

Lizzy Yarnold’s work with SportsAid

• She is an ambassador for SportsAid, a charity that supports young British athletes. SportsAid (charity website)
• She has reflected on how early financial support from SportsAid helped her own career.

In a 2024 interview, Yarnold said: “SportsAid gave me belief at a time when I didn’t have it – that support is everything for a young athlete.” Team GB (British Olympic Association) notes her ambassadorial role.

Lizzy Yarnold’s public speaking engagements

Yarnold regularly speaks at conferences and corporate events, sharing insights on high‑performance habits, mental toughness, and career transitions. Her talks are known for blending personal stories with actionable strategies. Chartwell Speakers (speakers bureau) offers her for keynote speeches.

Does Lizzy Yarnold have a partner?

Yes. Yarnold married Tom Yarnold (formerly a bobsledder for Great Britain) in 2019. The couple live together in the UK. Tom Yarnold, also a former winter athlete, competed in the two‑man bobsleigh. Their wedding was a private ceremony. Olympics.com (official Olympic coverage) confirms the marriage.

Lizzy Yarnold’s relationship status

• Marital status: Married (since 2019)
• Spouse: Tom Yarnold, former bobsledder
• No public information about any previous partners

The pattern: Yarnold’s partner shares her high‑performance background.

Has Lizzy Yarnold been ill?

During her skeleton career, Yarnold experienced a serious viral illness in 2016 that affected her training and competition schedule. She has also spoken about mental health struggles after the 2014 Olympics, including feelings of pressure and isolation. Her openness about these challenges has made her a vocal advocate for athlete mental health. Olympics.com (official Olympic coverage) documents the 2016 illness.

Health challenges during her skeleton career

• 2016 – Viral illness that caused significant weight loss and disrupted training.
• Post‑2014 – Mental health difficulties, including anxiety and depression.

Yarnold later described the viral illness as “the hardest moment of my career.” She credits her medical team and family support for helping her return to top form in time for the 2018 Games. Team GB (British Olympic Association) notes her resilience.

What this means: Yarnold’s ability to overcome serious illness underscores her mental toughness.

What is Lizzy Yarnold’s biography?

Born on 31 October 1988 in Sevenoaks, Kent, Yarnold initially competed in heptathlon before being recruited into skeleton through UK Sport’s Girls4Gold programme. She joined the British skeleton squad in 2010 and quickly rose through the ranks. Olympics.com (official Olympic coverage) provides a full career timeline.

Early life and education

• School: Tunbridge Wells Girls’ Grammar School
• University: University of Gloucestershire (Sport Science)
• Initial sport: Heptathlon (inspired by Denise Lewis’s 2000 Olympic gold)

Skeleton career highlights

• 2013–14: World Cup overall title
• 2014: Olympic gold, Sochi
• 2015: World Championship gold, Winterberg
• 2015: European Championship gold
• 2018: Olympic gold, PyeongChang (defended title)

She achieved the career grand slam (Olympic, World, European, World Cup titles) – a feat only one other skeleton athlete has completed. Lizzy Yarnold (athlete website) confirms the grand slam.

What this means: Yarnold’s record places her among the most decorated skeleton athletes in history. Her ability to win across four different competition formats demonstrates rare versatility.

Timeline

The pattern: Yarnold’s timeline shows a deliberate progression from athlete to mentor.

Clarity section

Confirmed facts

• Won Olympic gold at Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018 Olympics.com
• Married to Tom Yarnold (2019) Olympics.com
• No children as of early 2025 Olympics.com
• Had a viral illness in 2016 Olympics.com
• Qualified as executive coach (Level 7) Lizzy Yarnold (athlete website)
• Ambassador for SportsAid Team GB
• Retired from skeleton in 2018 Olympics.com

What’s unclear

• Exact details of her current coaching client list
• Whether she will have children in the future
• Specific details of weight changes (no official statement)
• Her exact net worth or income from coaching
• Details of her daily routine

The implication: While Yarnold’s public story is well-documented, some aspects of her private and professional life remain private.

Quotes

“It has been an amazing 10 years of my life, and I have been lucky enough to learn from amazing coaches and be part of this team.”

Lizzy Yarnold, on her retirement from skeleton, as quoted by Olympics.com (official Olympic coverage)

“SportsAid gave me belief at a time when I didn’t have it – that support is everything for a young athlete.”

Lizzy Yarnold, 2024 SportsAid interview, as reported by Team GB (British Olympic Association)

“Yarnold became the first British athlete and second person ever to achieve the skeleton grand slam.”

Lizzy Yarnold official website

The pattern: Yarnold’s words reflect both gratitude and strategic thinking about her career.

Summary

Yarnold’s trajectory from Olympic slider to executive coach is not just a career change – it is a deliberate application of elite‑performance principles to a different arena. For young British athletes looking at life after sport, her path offers a blueprint: treat your competitive career as a foundation, not a ceiling. The choice is to let the sport end with the final event or let it launch a second act – Yarnold chose the latter.

Frequently asked questions