Lizzy Yarnold pulls out of Calgary World Cup event after dizziness

Skeleton rider Lizzy Yarnold won Great Britain's only gold medal of the Sochi Olympics

Olympic skeleton champion Lizzy Yarnold has pulled out of the World Cup event in Calgary following dizziness during Friday's comeback win in the USA.

Yarnold, 26, who won Britain's solitary gold in Sochi, is following medical advice but plans to return in January.

"I felt dizzy at the end of the first run in Lake Placid but felt okay before the second run," she said.

"But in our sport we are travelling at such high speeds these things happen and we have to look after ourselves."

The opening World Cup event in Lake Placid was defending champion Yarnold's first outing since winning gold in February and she finished ahead of Canada's Elisabeth Vathje and Janine Flock of Austria in third.

But she looked disorientated after crossing the line following her first run. She was then cleared by doctors to race in the second run before claiming victory.

The World Cup moves to Europe next month with Altenberg, Konigssee and St Moritz all hosting events in the overall series in January.

Yarnold, one of the nominees for the BBC Sports Personality of the Year 2014, added: "I'm going to spend the time over Christmas resting so that I can come back stronger in 2015".