Amy Williams hurtles to Olympic glory

• Amy Williams waves the Union Flag to celebrate victory. Picture: Clive Mason/Getty Images

Her victory in the Skeleton Bob was greeted with unfettered joy in the British camp but was marred by continuing complaints from rivals that the new Olympic champion was wearing an illegal helmet.

Lines of innocuous-looking ridges on Williams's helmet meant that the first British solo win since Robin Cousins triumphed in the 1980 figure skating at Lake Placid was not without controversy.

Canada, the United States, Germany and two unnamed countries had complained to the International Federation of Bobsleigh and Tobogganing (IFBT) arguing that the ridges did not comply with the sport's rules.

These say that helmets must not have any additionally attached aerodynamic elements. The protesters argued that spoilers on the helmet gave Williams an unfair aerodynamic advantage.

Fortunately for British Olympic history, the protests were rejected by the IFBT.

An IFBT jury led by Wolfgang Strauss ruled that the ridges were "an integral part of the helmet" and not additions.

Williams's delight at becoming the first British woman to win an individual gold since the figure-skater Jeannette Altwegg won in 1952 transcended any complaints about her kit.

Williams, 27, nicknamed "curly wurly" because of her frizzy hair, hugged team-mates and wrapped herself in a Union Flag after her win in Whistler, Canada.

"I am absolutely speechless," Williams said after catapulting herself down the 1,450 metre descent – a journey that took her just 54 seconds flat on her flimsy sled nicknamed Arthur.

"Never in a million years did I think I'd come here and win gold," she said. "I don't think it will sink in for weeks and weeks. It's amazing to do this for my country. I had nothing to lose here and I just went for it. I enjoyed every minute.

"It's all a blur. I can't even remember half of it. I just came out the bottom and looked at my coach," she said, before adding that she wanted to "give her mum a hug".

Her mother Jan, a former midwife, and her father Ian, a chemistry professor at Bath University, were in Whistler to watch her win.

Jan Williams said: "I am extremely proud of what she has achieved and all the hard work she has put in has paid off today, it's just amazing to be here and share it with her."

Williams, who took up the sport eight years ago and complained of "not really liking it" after her first go, had led the four-round event right from her first descent. The third heat saw the former 400-metre runner set the fastest time before sealing her victory on her fourth and final time down the track.

Her father said: "After the third run I was just feeling 'yes', it was from that point on it was her race to lose, but I just didn't think she was going to do that this time, it was just brilliant."

Her parents' jubilation was shared by scores of British fans in Canada including Sir Richard Branson who was beside the track. Back home in Bath, her brother Simon and twin sister Ruth cheered along with dozens of well-wishers.

Also making it on to the podium for today's medal ceremony were Kerstin Szymkowiak, who was 0.56 seconds behind to take silver, and her German team-mate Anja Huber, who took bronze.

Williams's win was hailed by Gordon Brown, the Prime Minister, who said: "I am delighted at Amy's victory in the Women's Skeleton. I congratulate her for winning Britain's first solo Winter Olympics gold medal, a first women's gold medal since 1952 and a first since Robin Cousins's successes.

"Shattering the track record she set in her first runs just adds to this major achievement and made for a truly exciting final."

Later, Williams indicated that she had not let the helmet controversy upset her.

"It doesn't surprise me," she said. "If someone's quick people want to bring them down. I wasn't worried because everything I have had been checked by the jury. Everyone likes to play head-games."

Her achievement means that she is the first individual to win Winter Olympic gold for Britain in any sport other than figure skating and our first Winter Olympic champion since Scot Rhona Martin's curling team eight years ago.

The design of Williams's helmet means she joins a group of athletes who have pioneered innovative equipment, only to attract complaints from rivals. They include Scots cyclist Graham Obree, who built his own bike, although it was banned from competition, and the swimmers who smashed world records in 2008 wearing non-textile polyurethane swim suits that have since been outlawed.