The 28-year-old from Bath was a relative unknown until she shot to superstardom with a stunning victory at the Vancouver 2010 Olympics.

Williams has since enjoyed a whirlwind nine months and has confessed that a string of media engagements, visits and functions have left her "shattered" and hoping to make her comeback halfway through the season in January.

She told the Bath Chronicle: "I've made the decision not to slide until January, mostly because I'm not psychologically, mentally and physically ready.

"Although I'm trying to train, they are not quality sessions and I'm not getting the right nutrition or the right amount of sleep.

"I was so strict before the Olympics.

"In one way it's nice because I needed a break from my rigid regime but I know I've gone way too far the other way and that will affect how I perform in January.

"I'm prepared not to get the same kind of results but it is the only time in the four-year Olympic cycle that you can just have a relaxing year."

Williams will be looking to defend her Olympic title in Sochi, Russia, in 2014 before retiring but will undoubtedly need to rediscover her motivation after reaching the pinnacle of the sport in February having achieved her life's dream.


She said: "Psychologically, I feel different and because I got the gold I'm like 'You know, I don't have to do it any more' so the motivation has changed.

"[The fire] had disappeared.

"I've spoken to a few Olympians and they've said it could take a year or two to get that motivation back and to really want it.

"I'm confident it will in time.

"I'm feeling a little bit more like it now the competitions are starting and for the first time in eight years I'm not out there on the ice.

"I want to go to another Olympics.

"I think my goal would be that no-one has ever won two Olympic medals in the sport, whatever the colour, so that I guess is something for me to aim for.

"But even being selected is easier said than done.

"Our new girls are really firing behind and are really strong.

"It is getting tougher and tougher."

Williams, set to be a leading contender for the coveted BBC Sports Personality of the Year prize next month, added she will definitely not be staying to compete at the 2018 Olympics, for which Annecy, Munich and Pyeongchang are currently bidding.

"I'm doing bits and bobs now so that when I do stop, most likely in four years' time, it will be easier," she said.

"I want to have children and have a family and a normal life, so I've got to think about what I'll do career-wise.

"If I wanted to then I could go beyond Sochi but the lifestyle is hard.

"I always said I'd stop when I stopped enjoying it any more or when I've found something I want to do more.

"At the moment I'm focusing on Sochi but we'll see what happens.

"You can't plan that far ahead. It will be even harder to get there again.

"I won't be able to float through these years and it will be a hard journey."

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