Actually, we perhaps shouldn't be surprised that Lizzy Yarnold is capable of finishing third only a couple of days after blacking out.

When she's competing, she switches to an alter-ego that she calls 'The Yarnold'. Sounds like a pro wrestling submission hold. Or a futuristic cop. Either way, you wouldn't mess.

Gavin Greenway: They should rename the skeleton the Superwoman. She looks like she is a flying......

How's this for a story? On a training run for a World Cup race in Whistler in 2012, Yarnold blacked out.

"There was so much pressure, my brain just wasn't prepared, or couldn't take it, so I just switched off," she said.

She still finished third in the race itself two days later. Hard as nails.

Image source, @kirstiegill

Kirstie Gill:, external Shush, don't tell my lecturer. Come on.

Where are you watching/following Yarnold's slide for gold? Tell us #bbcsochi, text on 81111 or the BBC Sport Facebook page.

If she pulls off what we expect and hope she will, Lizzy Yarnold will become the 10th British Winter Olympic gold-medal winner and the 24th of any colour overall.

One of those golds - the 1984 success of Torvill and Dean - was won 30 years ago to the day.

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"Lizzy Yarnold will have a minute-to-minute plan for her preparation. A really key thing is to mentally visualise the track beforehand, running through every corner in your head, before clearing your mind when you finally hit the track."

Ollie Williams
BBC Sport in Sochi

Image source, @olliew

On Twitter:, external The incumbent, Amy Williams, waiting to be unseated - probably by her tenant - at the Sochi 2014 track.

Image source, Getty Images

Lizzy Yarnold's mother Judith on BBC One: "It is nerves more than excitement. It has been a really long day for us, and this is the best moment in the world being here.

"The third run went really well. Another track record - what more can you ask?

Father Clive: "All the other competitors are shaking their heads when they come in. Their body language says it all.

"She has had three dream runs."

Lizzy Yarnold isn't the only Briton in action this afternoon - the men's curlers are staging something of a comeback against Denmark. From 5-1 down, Dave Murdoch's team have picked up three stones in the sixth end to claw it back to 5-4. There's four ends to go.

Ros Clarke:, external People are sweeping the skeleton track. Wonder if anyone has thought of a combined skeleton/curling event?

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"Lizzy Yarnold's aerodynamic positioning is perfect. She is keeping her shoulders down at all times, and that is lessening drag meaning she maintains a higher speed.

"Everyone else would now have to have a stormer and she would have to fall off her sled. She is a cut above the rest.

"The new breed of girls coming through are bigger and heavier than they have been in the past. Lizzy fits that profile perfectly."

So, to recap, Lizzy Yarnold is a massive 0.78 seconds ahead of second-placed American Noelle Pikus-Pace. She could almost afford to stop halfway down the course, have a word with her family, then carry on. Basically, she just needs to get down in one piece and the gold is likely to be hers. Live TV coverage has switched to BBC One and continues at the top of this page.

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"I am really surprised at the big gaps between the competitors. The track is unique as it has so many uphill sections.

"Athletes are making mistakes there, which is leading them to bleed away time. The key corner is number 11, where some are clipping the wall and others are smashing into it.

"Corner five into six is also causing problems."

"This is the most tense time for all us waiting for it all to happen but I know Lizzy and she will be the calmest person out there," said UK Sport director of performance and former British Skeleton performance director Simon Timson.

"I have the upmost confidence in Lizzy being able to go and do the business," says GB team-mate Kristan Bromley.

Romania's Maria Marinela Mazilu is the 20th and final slider to go in the third run. In last place, she'll go out first in the final run, which begins in about 10 minutes. From then on, there will be 20 lots of about 57 seconds standing between Lizzy Yarnold and the Olympic title.

Britain's Dom Parsons, who lies in joint-10th place at the halfway point in the men's skeleton, said: "I'm happy with how it went until corner 11. In training it was a choice between fighting and skidding, or taking a hit, and I tried to take a light hit.

"Corners 14 and 15 haven't gone so well today [but] if I can put together a run tomorrow hopefully it will show in the times."

Amy Williams
2010 Olympic skeleton champion on BBC TV

"Power, speed, explosiveness out of the block. A fast push is so important - one tenth at the top could be two at the bottom.

"Plus, having the mindset and psychology of an athlete, being able to lie on that sled and be calm under pressure and react quickly to mistakes, not in five corners time. Having good equipment - the sled, the runners, the technical choices - is also really important. Choosing the right runners on your sled is a big deal. It's like having the right tyres on a F1 car."

Matt Sillitoe:, external Lizzy Yarnold can do her next run carrying a brew and some biscuits on her tray!

Yarnold's fundraising attracted interest from Mervyn Sugden, one of the senior underwriters. He was so taken by her story, that he provided the money she needed.

Now, in honour of Sugden, Yarnold calls names her sled 'Mervyn'. In about an hour and 15 minutes, Lizzy and Mervyn will be sliding for Olympic gold.

Anyway, back to the story of golden-girl-elect Yarnold, who actually rents a house in Bath from 2010 champion Amy Williams.

In the summer of 2009, then student Yarnold was working at an insurance underwriters in London. She was trying to save up £176 to buy a custom-made bag for the runners on her sled, and put a jar in the company kitchen in the hope of getting a few donations.