Lizzy Yarnold: Skeleton racer eyes British World Cup selection

Kent skeleton racer Lizzy Yarnold says she is not feeling any pressure as she targets a place at the Winter Olympics.

The 24-year-old competes for a spot in the British Skeleton World Cup squad in Germany this week.

She told BBC South East Today: "I am very good in being able to shut out any other pressure. I push myself and have extremely high expectations.

"I think that has got me as far as I am at the moment and it should take me to the Olympics hopefully."

She added: "Sochi has been driving me in training for the last five years.

"I am very good at just thinking about each run and focusing on myself."

Current skeleton world champion Shelley Rudman has been pre-selected for the British World Cup squad, which means Yarnold, from Sevenoaks, is looking to secure one of the two remaining places for the World Cup circuit this year.

"Shelley is an amazing rival and someone to look up to with so much experience," Yarnold said.

"I have got to get through the British selection team races and there are lots of other girls pushing me forward in hunting down Shelley.

"Everyone is pushing that level of performance higher and higher."

The number of quota places for each country at the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics will be determined by athletes' individual FIBT [International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation] world rankings in mid-January.

Great Britain's selections for Sochi 2014 will take place following the confirmation of quota places.

Yarnold, who was junior world champion in 2012, says the Games are her "aim for this year and desperately where I want to be".

"I am just glad I am in this position," she said.

"Four years ago I wouldn't have ever dreamed of trying to be in my first Winter Olympics.

"It is also about enjoying it. I love what I do.

"I am an athlete and am extremely competitive but what is better than sliding down an ice track at 90 miles an hour?

"You cannot match that feeling of adrenaline."