Coltman calls time on career

Amelia Coltman has called time on her skeleton career five months after a top ten finish at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina.

Coltman came ninth in Italy in February as GB qualified three women for the showpiece event for the first time ever.

The 30-year-old is retiring nine years after she first swapped tennis for Skeleton and with just shy of 75 international races to her name.

She won the country’s second female World Cup gold since 2015 when she took top spot in PyeongChang in November 2024 and her last season saw her help GB to a maiden Overall World Cup title in the team event.

Her career began in historic fashion when she became the first Brit to take the Europa Cup title in their maiden season of competitive sliding in 2019/2020, while her European Championship bronze in 2024 was GB’s first female continental championship medal for nine seasons.

“Amelia should be incredibly proud of her skeleton career and the impact she has had, both on and off the ice,” said the BBSA’s Executive Performance Director, Natalie Dunman.

She leaves the sport as an Olympian, a World Cup winner and a multiple European Championship medalist. She created history early on in her career with her Europa Cup success, and again with her European Championship bronze in 2024, and she has undoubtedly left a mark on skeleton in this country.

“Amelia’s professionalism and high standards have been an asset to the whole team, and the way in which she battled back from injury is a mark of her character, and I’m pleased that she was able to fulfil her dream of competing at an Olympic Games before calling time on her skeleton career. Winning the Overall World Cup team title last season was another really positive performance to end on.

“While we’re sad to see her leave, we know that the start of a new Olympic cycle is a good time for individual athletes and the programme to move in a new direction and we’re confident that those athletes who step up will make the most of the opportunity.”

Amelia Coltman finished ninth at February’s Olympics

Coltman’s achievements also include a silver medal in the 2025 European Championships in Lillehammer; World Cup bronze medals in Lillehammer and Sigulda; 14 medals on the Europa Cup, Intercontinental Cup and North American Cup circuits; and top six finishes in both the individual and team events at the 2024 World Championships in Winterberg.

“My dream growing up was always to represent Great Britain at the Olympic Games, and achieving that goal at Milano Cortina 2026 was everything I hoped it would be,” said Coltman.

“It feels like the right time to step away and I'm very excited for the next chapter of my life and the new challenges it will present. I feel content with my career and I’m sure in a few years’ time I will look back and be very proud of what I achieved.

There are so many memories from my nine years in skeleton and I’ve experienced countless amazing opportunities, but the overwhelming sense of pride walking into the opening ceremony at the 2026 Winter Olympics will be something that sticks with me forever.

“Competing at those Olympics Games in front of my family was obviously a huge highlight, as was winning my two European Championship medals. My World Championship debut was a massive highlight for me as I produced some of my best sliding to finish sixth and it was the first time my husband Harry had ever seen me slide! Winning my first gold medal for Great Britain and winning the EC title in my debut year of competition were also very special moments where I really surprised myself.

“When I first trialled fort the team, if you had told me I was going to win 22 International medals for Great Britain, including World Cup golds and European championship podiums, and get to compete at the Olympics, I would have thought you were talking about someone else! Just representing Great Britain is a huge honour that not many people get to experience, so standing on several podiums has been an unbelievable privilege.”

Coltman has had plenty to celebrate over the past nine years

Having got married to her long-term partner, Harry, just a few weeks ago, Coltman’s immediate plans centre around spending time with friends and family, while continuing with her regular school visits and acting as an athlete mentor at the 2026 National School Games Finals this summer.

She begins a PGCE in Physical Education at Loughborough University in September as she seeks to fulfil her long-term goal of making sport an inclusive place for all, while also giving others the opportunity to achieve their potential and their sporting dreams in the same way that she has.

That desire to inspire the next generation has been writ large throughout her career and it’s no surprise that she takes a huge amount of pride in the impact she has had in that area.

The human element is also apparent in how Coltman describes her relationship with her team mates and coaches - people that she has built genuine lifelong friendships with and who have become more than just colleagues during her time in the sport.

“I’ve had many opportunities to share my sporting journey with the next generation, and every story that I have heard where I have managed to inspire a young person has made my career even more meaningful. I’m just as proud about that as I am about the things I’ve achieved on the ice,” added Coltman.

Skeleton has meant so much more than winning medals and titles: it has tested me in so many ways and challenged me to grow as a person. The people in it have helped me to become a much more confident, resilient and focused individual, and I will take that with me into the next chapters of my life.

“We have a very special team of people in British Skeleton that push each other to be better and pick each other up when facing challenges. The long weeks on the road wouldn’t have been half as much fun without the team around me. I have a strong bond with all of my team mates and support staff and I couldn’t have achieved success without them, and I’ll miss every one of them. Thank you for not only helping me achieve my dreams but also helping me develop as a person along the way. Thank you for pushing me to always be better.

Coltman leaves with lifelong friendships as well as medals

“A huge thank you also has to go to my parents, who have never stopped believing in me and have always been so selfless in providing me with countless opportunities to pursue sport to a high level. The same to my husband, Harry, for being my rock, supporting me through the highs and lows and allowing me to chase my dreams - without you I wouldn’t have achieved half of what I have.

“A massive thank you to my sponsors, Andy at Metaltek, Homewood, and Sonal at AptusPT, for standing by me and helping me achieve my dream. I appreciate everything you have contributed to my journey.

“And finally, to everyone who has shown support throughout my career, whether that’s a message, a hug or donating to my fundraising campaign when I first started out, thank you for your kindness and generosity - it has meant the world to me.”