Lizzy Yarnold crowned European skeleton champion in Austria

Image source, AP

Image caption, Lizzy Yarnold (centre) trails Janine Flock (left) by 53 points with one World Cup race to go

Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold has won gold at the European Championship in Igls, Austria.

It was the 26-year-old Briton's second gold medal in as many days following her victory in the World Cup at the same track on Saturday.

Austria's Janine Flock, the defending champion, won silver and Britain's Rose McGrandle the bronze.

The event doubled as the sixth World Cup of the season, with Yarnold remaining third overall.

Ahead of the final round, which takes place in Sochi, defending World Cup champion Yarnold trails leader Flock by 53 points with a maximum of 225 remaining.

Image source, Lizzy Yarnold

Yarnold said: "Being European Champion was a huge goal of mine, I desperately wanted to add that crown.

"It was one of the goals for the season and the other one is the World Championships so it's been a really, really good day."

The European Championship was scheduled to take place in La Plagne, France, last month but was postponed because of "unacceptable ice conditions".

The World Championships take place on 6 March in Winterberg, Germany.