The bobsleigh competition isn't just about pretty metallic colours. Crossing the line in the quickest time is important, too, and the team which did that was the American first team, piloted by World Championship silver medallist Elana Meyers. USA set the pace with a track record of 57.26 seconds, while Canada's reigning Olympic champion Kaillie Humphries (+0.13) is second and the American second team (+0.19) third.

The first run of the women's bobsleigh has come to an end and the award (unofficial) for best bobsleigh goes to... [dramatic pause]... the Belgian team whose sleigh seems to have been based on the Rocket lollipop. Elfje Willemsen and Hanna Emilie Marien rattled down the course in an impressive 57.45 seconds for fourth.

Image source, Getty Images

Nick Hope
BBC Sport at Rosa Khutor Extreme Park in Sochi

GB's Murray Buchan is absolutely beaming after that second run!

"I'm over the moon, it was the first time I've landed a double and it felt amazing," he said. "It wasn't enough for the final which I'm disappointed about but I'll be back and hopefully even stronger in four years' time at the next Olympics."

Jana Pittman, the former world championship 400m gold medallist, is another athlete to have swapped the running track for the bobsleigh run. By turning up in Sochi and making the start line, she has become the first Australian female athlete to compete in both summer and winter Olympics.

Sadly, it's not been a successful transition and she's unlikely to challenge for a medal having just finished 14th fastest in her first run with team-mate Astrid Radjenovic.

Image source, Getty Images

The Dutch do it again. A clean sweep for the Netherlands as Jorrit Bergsma secures gold and breaks the Olympic record in the process with a time of 12 minutes 44.45 seconds. His team-mates Sven Kramer takes silver (+4.57 seconds) and Bob De Jong the bronze (+22.75).

Colin Bryce
Former GB bobsledder on BBC TV

"When you look back at what happened during the week, the training did not go very well at all for Paula Walker and Rebekah Wilson so 12th place for the junior world champions it is not too bad. If they clean up the little mistakes, they should be fine."

The British pairing clatter the first big corner and there's a little tap on the exit of seven. That costs them time and they can only manage 12th of 12 runners so far.

Here we go, then. Time for Paula Walker and Rebekah Wilson's run. Nice touch from Wilson, who steps onto the ice with bright orange shoes which have her mum and dad's names written in black marker on the heels.

So United States 1 head Canada 1 with United States 2, Belgium 1 and Netherlands 1 completing the top five after 10 runners. Not long until the British pairing are on the ice - they're 12th to go.

Buchan's team-mate James Machon has even more to do to reach the final after finishing down in 22nd after run one. The Sheffield man is all smiles at the end because he knows he has vastly improved his score. A mark of 52.20 is up in the top 10 for run two, but is not enough to threaten the qualification places.

Image source, Rowan Cheshire

Team GB halfpipe skier Rowan Cheshire on Twitter, external: So gutted that I won't be able to compete in the Olympics, but there's always positives to come! Thank you everyone for all the support.

Cheshire, 18, had a fall in training which left her unconscious and forced her to pull out of her event

Snow is piling down from the Sochi night sky again, which is making the conditions increasingly difficult for the competitors. Great Britain's Murray Buchan needs an improvement and he thumps his thigh in delight as he finishes his second run. It is fair to say the Scot is happy. Buchan betters his first run...but it is still not enough to gatecrash the top 12.

American Lolo Jones, who missed out on a medal in the summer London 2012 Olympics, has turned her hand to bobsleigh. It's not gone well, though, as she and her team-mate finish seventh overall, 1.07 seconds behind the leaders and number one American crew of Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams.

Image source, Penny Coomes

Great Britain figure skater Penny Coomes on Twitter, external: This week I got to live my dream! Thank you to UK Sport and everyone who plays the National Lottery for getting us here!!

Canada 1 (Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse) clock a time of 57.39 to go top by virtue of the fact they went first, but they're soon bumped down when United States 1 (Elana Meyers and Lauryn Williams) who clock a start and track record as they go top with a 57.26.

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"The home advantage will come for the Russians; because they have practised in these conditions, they will be able to make minor adjustments to their sleighs at the start."

Concerned looks among the skiers and spectators at the Rosa Khutor Extreme Park as USA's Lyman Currier crashes to the ground after an awkward landing. Thankfully, the 19-year-old climbs to his feet with the help of medical staff as he trudges off the ice. We are halfway through the second run now, with USA's David Wise leading the field at the moment.

Image source, PA

GB bobsleigh pilot Paula Walker (pictured right) is the partner of John Jackson (lead driver for the GB men). She is a corporal in the Royal Signals and will be accompanied in Sochi by Rebekah Wilson. The duo won the World Junior Championship title in 2011.

Their best result in this season's World Cup is eighth, while final overall position was 13th. Walker finished 14th at last year's World Championship, but has since swapped brakewoman Gillian Cooke in favour of Wilson. Walker has Olympic experience, having raced alongside Kelly Thomas, and finished 11th.

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion

Image source, Amy Williams

On Twitter, external: @TeamGB @GBBobsleigh coaches all looking relaxed, focused & happy before @paulawalkerGB & @BexGBbobsleigh race.

Reigning Olympic and world champions Canada - Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse - will be first to slide. The pair were consistently near the top of the timing charts in training.

Moyse has had a tough time with injury, breaking her ankle when representing the Canadian rugby team. She had hip surgery in 2012 and only made her comeback to bobsleigh as recently as last November. It's going well, though, as the pair won the World Cup title in January.