Skeleton World Cup: Britain's Lizzy Yarnold starts season with a bronze in Lake Placid

Britain's Lizzy Yarnold won a bronze medal in the opening race of the new Skeleton World Cup season in Lake Placid, USA.

The reigning Olympic champion moved up from fifth place after her first run to finish third, 0.33 seconds behind winner Janine Flock of Austria.

British pair Mica McNeil and Mica Moore came eighth in the women's bobsleigh.

"Third isn't first, which is where I always aim to be, but it's a good start to the season," said Yarnold.

"That's a really good opener to the season. It gives me a platform to push on from."

• I'm a better athlete now - Yarnold

• Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup on the BBC

Fellow Briton Laura Deas was fifth in the skeleton, a further 0.23s behind Yarnold.

There are seven more World Cup races before the Winter Olympics begin on 9 February and the results will form part of the selection process for the Great Britain team.

Yarnold, who took time away from the sport after wining gold in Sochi, was diagnosed with a vestibular disorder affecting the inner ear in September, causing dizzy spells.

She made history in 2015 by becoming the first British slider, and only the second woman ever, to hold the Olympic, world and European titles at the same time.

McNeill & Moore make World Cup after funding cut

British driver McNeill and brake woman Moore won Junior World Championship gold in January, but they were part of the women's team that had their funding cut in September by British Bobsleigh.

McNeill set up a crowd funding page and raised £30,000 to ensure they could make the World Cup events in the hopes of qualifying for the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Having made it to the first event of the season, the pair finished eighth on both their runs as Canada's Kaillie Humphries and Melissa Lotholz won gold.

In the men's two-man bobsleigh, Bradley Hall and Toby Olubi came 19th after two runs, while Bruce Tasker and Joel Fearon did not qualify for a second run.