Elena Nikitina of Russia who was recently disqualified from the 2014 Sochi Olympics and banned from the Olympic Games for life has won the 2017/2018 BMW IBSF World Cup race 5 and European Championships in Innsbruck.
Nikitina shared the World Cup podium in Innsbruck with Team Canada’s Elisabeth Vathje (0.58 seconds back) and Mirela Rahneva (0.64 seconds back). Silver in the European Championships went to World Champion Jacqueline Lölling of Germany, who finished fourth in the World Cup. Local hero Janine Flock of Austria, who finished fifth in the World Cup, took bronze in the European Championships.
Nikitina who has been in sensational form all year stated “Innsbruck is my track! It’s short and pretty easy so it’s good for speedy starters. And I had two great heats, too!”
The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) provisionally banned Nikitina ahead of the Whistler race in November only to have its decision overturned on appeal by its own legal commission since then she took bronze last week in Wintererg and Gold and European Championship title in Igls.
The Canadian Elisabeth Vathje was pleased with her silver medal adding “I have been fighting an infection for a while. Training in Innsbruck was a bit so, so, too. I’m really looking forward to a break now.”
Her team mate Mirela Rahnevawho won bronze added “Before the race, I definitely had my sights set on a podium finish. After coming seventh in the first heat, I really tried to concentrate and visualise the track. Of course, I knew from last year that I can race well here!”
Jacqueline Lölling (GER, 1002 points) continues to lead the overall standings in the 2017/2018 BMW/IBSF World Cup, ahead of Elisabeth Vathje (CAN, 966). After the last World Cup race of 2017, Mirela Rahneva (CAN, 920) goes into the Olympic year in third place.
RacerReady will be reporting the results and views from the world cup races immediately the action finishes.
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