British athlete Amy Williams won a gold medal in the bob skeleton event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.
Williams is now an ambassador for the London 2012 Olympic Games and is trying to get the whole nation involved. "It's going to be an amazing event, whether you see it live in London or from further afield," says Williams. "And it will be a real treat for the British team to compete in our own country."
In November 2010 Amy Williams took on a very different challenge: participating in the FT London Twin Peak Challenge to help raise money for humanitarian organisation Action Against Hunger.
We asked Cambridge-born Williams about her favourite things to see and do when she's in London.
Q: Where do you stay when you're in London?
A: I live in Bath so I'm lucky that when I come to London I always get to stay in nice hotels – I've stayed in some really lovely ones! If I did live here, I'd probably choose Notting Hill, or maybe somewhere near Hampstead Heath. I like parks.
Q: What's the best party you've been to in London?
A: The British Olympic Ball at the Grosvenor Hotel was amazing. And so was the Glamour Magazine Women of the Year Awards Party (Williams won 2010 Sportswoman of the Year) in Mayfair's Berkeley Square, which was a lovely location.
Q: Where do you like to eat out in London?
A: I enjoy a good steak, so really anywhere that I can get one of those. Hawksmoor does really good steak and cocktails. Or La Relais de Venise – it does simple steaks well, and has a nice atmosphere.
Q: What's your favourite London icon?
A: I'd have to say all the showy stuff – the Tower of London and Tower Bridge, the London Eye, the Houses of Parliament, Buckingham Palace – they're all so "London" to me.
Q: What's your favourite shop in London?
A: I love Liberty. The building is beautiful; I love all the old features. And you never get bored at Harrods. I always try to browse (if not buy!) at Harrods and Liberty when I'm in London.
Q: What are your top tips for visitors?
A: Get a Tube map – I can't go anywhere without one. And a street map too – good maps are essential in London.
Q: What's your favourite hidden gem in London?
A: I haven't found one yet but I'm hoping to discover a secret park in Central London that only myself and a few others know about!
Q: What's the strangest thing you've ever seen in London?
A: I couldn't name one thing – the huge variety of people in London who dress in all different ways means you get an interesting spectacle every day.
Q: If you were Mayor for the day what would you do or change?
A: For my charity, Action Against Hunger, I would do something about how much food is wasted every day in the city. I'd make sure all leftover food was given to homeless or less fortunate people rather than being thrown away.
Q: If you were invisible for the day where would you go?
A: Buckingham Palace – I'd go around and look in all the rooms to see what happens.
Q: If you could go back to any period in London's history when would it be?
A: I'd go back to the 18th or 19th century when there were still horses and carriages. It's a romanticised view, of course, but it would be nice to be in a time when people were walking, riding horses and writing letters, not using cars and mobile phones.
Q: If you could take one piece from a London gallery, what would it be?
A: Probably something from Tate Modern. If I have a few hours spare I often head there to relax. I really love the spindly Giacometti sculptures. Maybe I'd take one of those.
Q: What do you think "makes" a Londoner?
A: Everyone's rushing around all the time in London but they're purposeful. I love the individuality of Londoners, there's something for everyone here.
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