ONE of Britain's greatest ever Winter Olympians has temporarily turned her attentions away from skeleton bobsleigh to set up her own personal training gym in Manningford Abbots.

Shelley Rudman, 2006 Winter Olympic Silver medallist, is using her 16 years of experience in the sport and leisure industry to get, Shelley Rudman: Personal Trainer, off the ground.

The 36-year-old, of Pewsey, is doing sessions on a one-to-one basis, for small groups or bespoke bookings where clients are trained in her private gym, at Black Barn, with a vast array of gym equipment.

"I am still not officially retired so the door is still ajar on that front, but from a business point of view, gym and consultancy, it is great and I am really enjoying it," she said.

"It caters for anyone young or old, wanting to lose weight, improve their fitness, improve their stability, core or become more confident, stronger and so far I have had some great results.

"Four clients on weight loss programmes have lost more than one stone, others have improved their strength, general wellbeing and health has improved and it is things like that which makes every day enjoyable as a trainer and my clients really happy.

"When you train your session is completely private and clients are trained by myself, so no waiting for equipment to become free as the gym is too busy or sessions booked up.

"My husband and two daughters Ella and Sofia love it. Ella loves to do chin ups and Sofia loves the skill mill. I also have elite and International athletes that use the gym while they are in the UK or in the Pewsey Vale so something new is always happening."

After completing her degree and various other qualifications in Sport science and coaching, her Olympic exploits and coaching herself, she says setting up this enterprise in the Pewsey Vale.

"I love working with people and to try and help them achieve their goals so it is great to help other people do this," she said.

"I miss competing as i got such a rush to see how far I could push myself in a race environment, but Alongside training clients and running the gym, I also do sports consultancy which opens up many opportunities working with organisations & companies.

"I was an athlete role model out in Lillehammer, Norway, last year working at the Winter Youth Olympic Games for the International Olympic Committee, I recently returned from Whistler, Canada where I have been doing some consultancy working on a very exciting film documentary, so I am still connected with the sports world and sporting bodies which is great and always open to new opportunities coming my way."

For more information visit http://www.shelleyrudman.com/