Jacqueline Lölling in second ahead of World Champion Tina Hermann
Whistler (RWH): Skeleton athlete Elisabeth Vathje of Canada is the first World Cup winner in the pre-Olympic winter season. At the BMW IBSF World Cup in Whistler (CAN), the athlete, who came third in the 2015 World Championships, pushed Jacqueline Lölling of Germany (0.84 seconds behind) into second place. World Champion Tina Hermann (GER, 0.86 seconds behind) finished in third.
Elisabeth Vathje achieved her first World Cup victory in Calgary (CAN) almost exactly two years ago in December 2014 at her second ever World Cup race.
After a season-long break, Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold of Great Britain (0.87 seconds behind) celebrated her comeback on the track by finishing in fourth place, missing out on a medal by just one hundredth of a second.
Making her World Cup début in front of a home crowd, local hero Mirela Rahneva of Canada set a new best start time for Whistler Sliding Centre (4.79 seconds) and finished in fifth.
Elisabeth Vathje (CAN, 225 points) is currently leading the overall standings for the 2016/2017 BMW IBSF World Cup, followed by Jacqueline Lölling of Germany (GER, 210) and defending World Cup champion Tina Hermann (GER, 200). ©RWH2016-2017
Photo: David McColm
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