Hermann the one to beat at skeleton World Champs

Hermann has already checked out the view from the top step of the podium in Igls, Austria, after helping Germany claim team gold on Valentine's Day.

And the European silver medallist and overall World Cup leader could yet walk away with a second gold as she leads the women's event by 0.16 seconds at the halfway stage after coming down in 1:48.34 minutes.

Hermann is closely followed by home favourite Janine Flock, while Sophia Griebel of Germany is 0.53 seconds further back in third.

American Anne O'Shea is just off the podium places in fourth and is 0.01 seconds behind Griebel, while Russian Elena Nikitina is the same distance further back in fifth.

As for Great Britain, Laura Deas is in 11th – 0.87 seconds off Hermann – while Donna Creighton is six places further back in 17th.

Sportsbeat 2016