Alex Coomber
Encyclopedia
Alexandra "Alex" Coomber (born Alexandra Hamilton on 28 December 1973) is a British
skeleton racer
who competed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She won the bronze medal
in the women's skelton event
at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City while competing with a broken wrist, having broken it in training 10 days prior to her race.
Coomber, who married in 2000, holds many records for achievements in the field of skeleton, won the first British Championship she entered, and was unbeaten at all other British championships. She won the women's Skeleton World Cup title three years in a row (1999-2000, 2000-1, 2001-2), a record listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Coomber is the only British athlete to have won three winter world cup series. During her career, she set track records at La Plagne
, Lake Placid
, and Nagano
. She had been an Officer of the British
Royal Air Force
, and retired from competing in the skeleton in order to return to her previous profession.
Coomber also won a silver medal in the women's skeleton event at the 2001 FIBT World Championships
in Calgary
.
Great Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
skeleton racer
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
who competed in the late 1990s and early 2000s. She won the bronze medal
Bronze medal
A bronze medal is a medal awarded to the third place finisher of contests such as the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, etc. The practice of awarding bronze third place medals began at the 1904 Olympic Games in St...
in the women's skelton event
Skeleton at the 2002 Winter Olympics
Skeleton returned to the program of the Winter Olympic Games for the first time in 54 years at the 2002 Games in Salt Lake City. Both men and women competed, with medals awarded after two runs down the course. Both events were contested on February 20.-Medal summary:-Medal table:-References:**...
at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City while competing with a broken wrist, having broken it in training 10 days prior to her race.
Coomber, who married in 2000, holds many records for achievements in the field of skeleton, won the first British Championship she entered, and was unbeaten at all other British championships. She won the women's Skeleton World Cup title three years in a row (1999-2000, 2000-1, 2001-2), a record listed in the Guinness Book of Records. Coomber is the only British athlete to have won three winter world cup series. During her career, she set track records at La Plagne
La Plagne bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The La Plagne bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in La Plagne, France. The track hosted the bobsleigh and luge competitions for the 1992 Winter Olympics located in neighboring Albertville.-History:...
, Lake Placid
Lake Placid bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run. is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Lake Placid, New York, United States. This venue was used for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and for the only winter Goodwill Games in 2000...
, and Nagano
Spiral (bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton)
The Spiral is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in Iizuna village, located north of Nagano, Japan. Used for the bobsleigh and luge competitions for the 1998 Winter Olympics, it is the only permanent bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Asia and the only one of its type in the world...
. She had been an Officer of the British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Royal Air Force
Royal Air Force
The Royal Air Force is the aerial warfare service branch of the British Armed Forces. Formed on 1 April 1918, it is the oldest independent air force in the world...
, and retired from competing in the skeleton in order to return to her previous profession.
Coomber also won a silver medal in the women's skeleton event at the 2001 FIBT World Championships
FIBT World Championships 2001
The FIBT World Championships 2001 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Calgary, Alberta, Canada...
in Calgary
Calgary
Calgary is a city in the Province of Alberta, Canada. It is located in the south of the province, in an area of foothills and prairie, approximately east of the front ranges of the Canadian Rockies...
.