91Èȱ¬

British Sochi medal hopes Lizzy Yarnold and Shelley Rudman finished second and third in the skeleton World Cup in St Moritz, Switzerland.

Yarnold has finished on the podium in all six World Cup races this year, while it was Rudman's first top-three result of the season.

United States' Noelle Pikus-Pace won the race, 0.40 seconds ahead of Yarnold, with Rudman 0:04 further back.

There are two World Cup races left with Yarnold leading the world standings.

Only Yarnold and Pikus-Pace have won races this season, with three victories apiece. They will race in Igls, Austria, next week before the final race in Konigssee in Germany at the end of January, which also doubles as the European Championships.

Rudman, who won the world title on the St Moritz track in 2013 and was a silver medallist at the 2006 Winter Games, said she had been struggling with a back injury early in the season and was ill over Christmas.

She broke the track record on her second run on Saturday, which was then overtaken by Pikus-Pace, but Rudman said: "I'm really happy I connected with the track today and got a bronze medal."

A slight mistake from Yarnold saw her miss out on gold and she said: "They were a few bumps and scrapes but I'm really pleased there are two British girls on the podium. It shows our strength in depth."

Great Britain will name the skeleton squad competing at the Winter Olympics, hosted by Russia, on 22 January.

The opening ceremony will be held on 7 February with the skeleton events on 14 and 15 February. Great Britain has a great record in skeleton at the Winter Olympics, having won a medal every time the event has been held.