Lizzy Yarnold finding her form ahead of women’s skeleton
Written by News on 14/02/2018
Defending champion Lizzy Yarnold was third and second on the final day of women’s skeleton training at the Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang on Wednesday.
The Sochi 2014 gold medallist appears to be finding form at the right time ahead of the four-run, two-day competition at the Olympic Sliding Centre in Alpensia, which begins on Friday.
Great Britain team-mate Laura Deas was seventh and fourth on her two runs on Wednesday, the fifth and sixth runs of three days of training.
From six runs and three days of training, Deas has finished first two times and Yarnold once.
They have been outside the podium places five times altogether, with Yarnold finishing fourth and sixth and Deas twice finishing seventh and once fourth.
“We knew we could be very good here together and it’s about being strong as a team,” Yarnold said.
“Training runs are great because you can try different lines and have a bit of fun. I’m becoming more comfortable with each run.
“I’m pushing myself and trying different things because that is what training is for.
“It’s a joy to slide on. It’s very fast and the ice is so smooth and wonderful, it’s such a good quality track. You can hear the air rushing past you.”
Deas, 29, claimed her first World Cup win in November 2015 and was fourth at the 2017 World Championships.
British sliders have a strong pedigree in the event and have claimed the last two women’s skeleton titles, with Yarnold succeeding 2010 winner Amy Williams as champion.
Shelley Rudman won Olympic silver in Turin, while Alex Coomber took bronze in Salt Lake City four years earlier, when the women’s event made its Games debut.
Meanwhile, Team GB have denied claims by other teams that the skinsuits used by their skeleton teams at the Winter Olympics are giving their athletes an unfair advantage.
A Team GB spokesperson said: “We are confident that all competition equipment meets the technical and commercial requirements for every sport and discipline. We do not comment on specific technical aspects of equipment prior to competition.”
(c) Sky News 2018: Lizzy Yarnold finding her form ahead of women’s skeleton
