Lizzy Yarnold wins European Skeleton Championship gold medal

Lizzy Yarnold has been crowned European champion after winning the re-arranged skeleton event in Igls, Austria.

The event had been due to take place in the French resort of La Plagne last weekend, but was called off because of poor track conditions.

Snow caused conditions to be difficult on Sunday as well, but Yarnold was able to conquer them and set the fastest time on both of her slides.

She beat reigning champion Janine Flock of Austria by 0.30 seconds and there was another boost for Britain as Yarnold's team-mate Rose McGrandle claimed the bronze medal.

"It doesn't matter whether I won Olympic gold or not, I am just trying to become a better athlete," Yarnold said. "It's been awesome support here. I have to thank my mom and dad for coming to watch all the way from the UK."

he race doubled as a World Cup event, meaning Yarnold closed the gap on leader Flock to 53 points with one event remaining in Sochi - a maximum of 250 points are still available at the venue of the 2014 Winter Olympics, where Yarnold also won gold.

Tina Hermann lies second in the standings, but she is now 27 points adrift after finishing fifth, and Flock needs only to finish on the podium in Russia to secure the title.

Yarnold was winning for the second time in 24 hours after taking the opening World Cup race of the weekend at the Austrian resort on Saturday.