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On Saturday Pewsey village erupted in a frenzy of confetti, cheers and Olympic glory as silver medallist Shelley Rudman made a victory tour through the streets.
 | | Crowds line the streets of Pewsey |
As an open top bus bearing Shelley and her supporters wound its way around Pewsey, Shelley, who slid to victory in the skeleton at the Turin Winter Olympics last month, was greeted as a hero by childhood friends. An estimated 7,000 people, both local and from further afield, lined the way as Shelley, accompanied by fellow Olympian and boyfriend Kristan Bromley, made her way to a reception at the Moonrakers Pub, where locals helped raise £3,000 to send her on her way to victory.
There landlord Jerry Kunkler was so delighted by her success that he put on a free bar: "This is Pewsey's way of saying thank you to Shelley for all she's done for the village and for her country."
 | | Skeleton Bobsleigh? |
Surrounded by an army of fans, photographers and cameramen, Shelley's parents Jack, 53, and Josephine, 58, looked as shell-shocked as their daughter had initially been to discover she had become a celebrity overnight. "I'm a bit stunned to be honest, but this is the best moment for us because this is the reality, all these people coming here for our daughter," said Josephine. When his daughter first told him of her ambition to take up the unusual sport, Jack said he was supportive: "I told her 'try everything you can' like we always have and she went off and did it. The next thing we knew she was representing Great Britain." Emerging from the throng of well-wishers with red, white and blue tickertape still in her hair, Shelley, 24, said:
 | | Ticker tape in Pewsey |
"I'm still thinking exactly the same way as when I finished my race, it's a crazy time. I just came home with something special, that's all. I never expected such a massive response." For Kristan Bromley, who was placed fifth in the men's event, his girlfriend's victory is bittersweet: "My proudest moment was probably after my own race. I was standing by the track feeling rock bottom but then I looked up at the TV and they were showing the moment Shelley came through and it lifted me straight from the floor. I am so proud of her." But Shelley insists: "A lot of people don't realise how involved with my programme Kristan is, in terms of the training and the support he gives me. To have him here is everything. "This is a victory for both of us." | 
