Sochi: Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain earned her country`s first gold medal of the Sochi Olympics on Friday with victory in the skeleton.
The 25-year-old, who led the event after the two opening runs, produced two more consistent rounds to clock a combined time of 3min 52.89sec to finish 0.97sec ahead of second-placed Noelle Pikus-Pace of the United States.
In her third heat, Yarnold, who repeated the triumph at the 2010 Vancouver Games of compatriot Amy Williams, set a new track record with a time of 57.91sec.
"It`s unexplainable the feeling, the feelings that I`m going through," she said.
"I`m sure it won`t sink in for another few days, I`m just over the moon. I`m just so proud that I put in all the work for the past five years and it`s all worked out."
"I came here wanting to do my own best and do myself justice and I`m so proud for Great Britain and everyone who supported me."
"The fourth run I was totally relaxed and went out and enjoyed it," said Yarnold.
"It was a bit of a messy run but I`m thrilled to get here after working so hard for the past five years, which makes it all worth it.
"It`s also lovely as it`s Valentine`s Day, so it has something romantic about it as well.
"My mum and dad and my sisters are here and I couldn`t have done it without them or the Team GB skeleton team. I`m Olympic champion."
Russia`s 2013 European champion Elena Nikitina was third with a time of 3:54.30.
"I`m really happy to win an Olympic medal, Russia`s first medal in women`s skeleton," Nikitina said.
"I feel a little tired but the win just revived me, gave me more force.
"After I finished and understood that I won a medal I couldn`t hold my tears, I`m completely happy."
AFP
First Published: Saturday, February 15, 2014, 13:48
