Isabella Fassnidge may not be a name that you would immediately recognise and you would be excused for thinking so. Isabella, or Issy as she likes to be known, grew up in Sevenoaks where she went to Ightham Primary School.
She is current studying for her A-levels at Hillview School for Girls in Tonbridge, where she also completed her GCSE’s. However more recently she has been selected to represent Great Britain in Skeleton.
Her aim is to follow other athletes in the sport such as Shelly Rudman, Amy Williams, Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Deas and achieve the same success at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina, by winning a gold medal.
In July of this year, Issy will have to make a lot of sacrifices to concentrate full time on this incredible opportunity to represent her country at Skeleton. The training regime is full time and she has already had to travel back and forth from Bath University to carry on her A level studies.
Issy said: “Competing at the Olympics has been a dream of mine since I can remember. A dream like this means I have had to dedicate 100% of my time and effort towards it. When training remotely, I have to train before school as well as twice afterwards”.
Why did you choose the Skeleton?
“When I was first presented the opportunity to apply to be in the team, I knew nothing about it! Once I researched into the sport and what it entailed, I loved the idea of going down an ice track at 90mph. I have always enjoyed adrenaline and speed, so I decided to sign up for the selection process called Girls4Gold.
This unique fast track scheme started with 250 hopefuls and has included physical tests, interviews, medical examinations, specific coaching, and group dynamic assessments. I am now 1 of 7 final athletes and have entered the full-time training phase at Bath University.
This culminated in a three-week trial on ice in November 2021 when four athletes were selected to compete on the international race circuit in 2022. This includes competing in the Europa championships and World championships.“
Please can you tell us your current personal bests in the Skeleton?
“I have not competed in Skeleton yet, however in October 2022 I will be entering the Europa cup race circuit where I aim to medal multiple times throughout the season. In training we are constantly pushing ourselves harder to be better so my PBs are always getting better too! A recent example of a PB I did in the gym was 130kg back squat for 5 reps.”
Why are you so passionate about sport?
“I love my sport because it is so unique. The feeling of sliding headfirst is amazing, it’s quite difficult to describe! To be a great slider you must memorise the track and be able to quickly correct your mistakes to prevent it affecting your whole run. I enjoy that it is never the same, and there is always more to be learnt. It’s just so much fun!”
Do you have an alternative favourite sport?
“My favourite sport, besides skeleton… Is probably netball. I used to play it when I was a child, and I enjoyed being part of a team and getting to run and jump around the court! It’s also great fun to watch the professionals play. Prior to the skeleton I competed at national level in track and field, I am also a qualified official for athletics.”
Which strengths do you believe you have that make you a great athlete?
“My biggest strength is that I am very determined and motivated. When I set myself a goal, I will work so hard to achieve it. Sometimes this has backfired on me because I push myself to injury, but I have learnt from my mistakes and know my limits now! I am also an individual who is always willing to learn. In sport you’re never perfect, and you can’t afford to settle or stop giving 100%. The fact that I understand this and want to learn new skills means that I can become the best athlete I can possibly be.”
Is there a coach or athlete that you look up to as a role model and why?
“I look up to Lizzie Yarnold. She is the best Skeleton athlete GB has ever had. Lizzie never gave up on her Olympic dream and overcame many barriers to be able to become a two time gold medallist in the sport. When she raced in the 2018 Olympic games, she was suffering from a chest infection, however she persevered and won a second gold medal! I was lucky enough to have a chat with her a few weeks ago and it was amazing!“
Do you have any interests or hobbies outside of sport?
“I absolutely love walking my dog! She is a cocker spaniel called Heidi and is the craziest dog ever! When I am not away for training, Heidi and I will go on long walks together. I enjoy baking too, but as I am still studying and training, I don’t have much time to do it unfortunately.”
What do you believe is the greatest challenge most athletes are facing today?
“I think mental health has always been a challenge for athletes, but now it is being talked about much more. Due to coronavirus athletes have had to adapt their training or train alone which has been very tough.
Also, being an elite athlete comes with pressure put on by themselves and external factors. The other challenge for athletes can be the cost of their sport. Finding the funds to be able to fully focus on training and not have another income is incredibly hard.”
What have you learned about teamwork from your past experiences on your teams?
“Having a team around you to support you makes a massive difference. Teamwork definitely makes the dream work! Even though skeleton is an individual sport, there are so many people such as coaches, nutritionists, physios, teammates who all contribute to an athlete’s success. I have learnt that being able to listen to your team’s advice as well as helping your team will benefit everyone around you. Having a cohesive team is paramount for an athlete’s success.“
What does your daily routine look like?
“My routine varies depending on if I am in Sevenoaks or Bath, as I travel back and forth a lot to be able to balance school and training. When I am in Sevenoaks for school, I wake up at 5.00am and go to the gym for my first training session. I will then go to school from 8.40am to 3.15pm and then I’m back to the gym for my second session. As soon as I get home, I have dinner and go straight to bed!
When I am in Bath I train during the day for 6-8 hours, so I do my schoolwork around that!”
What does your diet and nutrition plan look like when you’re bulking up or getting in shape during training?
“We aim to have protein after every session, so things like a shake, peanut butter etc. with every meal I will also have a source of protein, usually chicken! And then on rest days I will eat less carbohydrates as I am using less energy and on hard training days, I will consume bread or rice etc. with every meal. I also love a bit of chocolate every now and again!”
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve gained from your coaches?
“It is okay to fail if you get back up and try again. That is how you will improve.”
What’s your technique for memorising and teaching yourself new courses before an upcoming meeting?
“Before I arrive at a new track, I make sure I know all the corners off by heart. I usually do this just by repeating it over and over again. I find watching POV videos of other athletes sliding the course very useful too because it helps me to get a feel for the track. Once we get to our location and do our first run, I teach myself the course by feeling how my sled is moving on the ice, and how much pressure I can feel on my body in order to do the correct steer.”
What are your preferred pre-meeting and post-meeting routines?
“Once I’ve learnt the track, and I’m about to slide, I sit with my eyes shut and visualise myself going down the course. Once I have finished, I don’t really have a routine, I have a chat with my coach about what went well or where I need to improve and focus on that.”
Are there any short-term goals you’d like to accomplish in the next few months to a couple of years?
“Away from skeleton, I would like to complete my A levels to a high standard. In skeleton, my goal is to continue to learn the sport and solidify what I am learning so that within the next couple of years I can win races!”
What do you see yourself accomplishing in five to ten years?
“If everything goes as planned, I see myself going to two or maybe even three Olympics and medalling at all of them. As well as winning smaller events too such as World Cup races and European races.”
About Skeleton
Skeleton is a Winter Olympic sport which involves a single person lying headfirst on a sled, flying head down an ice track. The aim of the sport is to get to the end of the track in the quickest time. This means travelling at speeds of up to 90mph with your chin centimetres from the ice. Skeleton was reintroduced into the Olympic programme in 2002 and the women’s GB team have achieved medal success in every Winter Olympic competition since then, including our very own Lizzy Yarnold in 2014 and 2018.
Fund Issy
Isabella is also seeking sponsorship/funding to support herself over the next few years in order that she can fully commit to the Team programme. She is currently unable to get a job due to the training schedule she has to keep. Please do contact Issy should you or your business be in a position to help Sevenoaks’ next Olympic hopeful.
• Isabella Fassnidge is 18 years old and currently studying her A-Levels at Hillview School. She has recently been selected to represent Great Britain in the Skeleton where her aim is to follow athletes such as Shelly Rudman, Amy Williams, Lizzy Yarnold and Laura Deas, achieving the same success at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milano Cortina. If you would like to contact Issy to discuss potential sponsorship opportunities, please contact her at issyfassnidge@outlook.com.
