WHEN golden girl Amy Williams shot headfirst downhill at speeds approaching 90mph to snatch gold at the Winter Olympics, she did so on a sled created by a former Sevenoaks School pupil.

Engineering student James Roche (corr) spent four years designing, building and honing the sled with friend and fellow engineering doctorate (EngD) (corr) student Rachel Blackburn.

The dynamic duo worked with the British Skeleton Team to find the perfect design, and settled on a steel base and carbon fibre board.

They both went along to the Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, to help Williams secure Team GB's first individual gold medal in 30 years.

"It was fantastic," said Mr Roche. "It was a really good team atmosphere.

"We were working so much and there were so many races.

"Everybody was working like clockwork."

Victorious

Williams had broken her own track record in a time of 3mins 5.64secs to emerge victorious in the skeleton bobsleigh by a massive 0.56secs.

And Mr Roche was convinced the sled used on the Whistler track made a difference to the result.

"I'm sure it helps, but it's the athlete that gets the sled down," said the 25-year-old Wadhurst man.

"It's been great to be involved and help her like that.

"While we were there it didn't really sink in. It was only once I got home and saw the videos that I really felt it."

Mr Roche is a sailing enthusiast and hopes to build a career marrying technology and sport.

But having returned to the UK he well and truly landed with a bump.

Now back at Southampton University, Mr Roche has to write up his thesis before he can collect his EngD.

Naturally, he is hoping the examination board will see fit to award him a gold of his own – star, that is.