Olympic cyclist Lizzie Armistead talks wedding plans after missing out on a medal at Rio 2016
The 27-year-old sportswoman is set to tie the knot to her long-term partner Philip Deignan
SHE may have missed out on an Olympic medal but at least Lizzie Armistead has her wedding to look forward to.
The 27-year-old cyclist, who finished in fifth place in the Women’s Road Race at Rio 2016 on Sunday, is set to tie the knot to her long-term partner Philip Deignan later this year.
The Otley-born sportswoman, who bagged silver at London 2012, told OK! magazine that she is planning to shun tradition and just have a big knees-up.
“I’m quite un-traditional. The important thing is that I’m marrying Phil and that my friends and family have a good time,” she said.
“I find weddings too procedural sometimes. I just want a big, fun party.”
Lizzie, who got engaged to professional cyclist Philip, 32, 11 months ago, joked she will ban friends and family who turn up on bikes.
“Anybody who brings anything cycling related will be turned away. There’ll be strictly no cycling theme at the wedding,” she said.
Irish Olympian Philip popped the question to Lizzie last September after a year of dating.
Recalling the happy moment, she said: “I feel really lucky. There wasn’t a doubt in my mind when Phil asked me to marry him.”
Meanwhile, Philip admitted he had the hots for Lizzie for years before they finally got together in 2014.
He told the publication: “Lizzie had just come out of a long-term relationship so I gave her a bit of space.
“I actually liked her and thought she was good looking when I first met her in 2010, but at that time I wasn’t ready for a relationship.
"I’d never really been in a relationship before Lizzie.”
Read the full story in this week's OK! Magazine - out now.