Nikitina ends World Cup wait in style in Park City

The Sochi 2014 Olympic bronze medallist had not won a World Cup event since 2013 – when she became the first Russian to win an official international event – but ended that drought in style with a fine second run.

Germany's Tina Hermann led the way after a beautiful first run, effortlessly gliding her way down the Park City track.

But only eight-hundredths of a second covered the top three, with 25-year-old Nikitina (who also notched up a track start record) and Canadian Elisabeth Vathje in second and third respectively.

Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold lurked in fifth place with compatriot Laura Deas in seventh, and it was all to play for still in a tight contest.

The sliders enjoyed faster ice on the second run, with many of them going quicker, and Deas in particular took advantage as she laid down a lightning-quick second section.

That was good enough to advance up to fifth place overall, with Canada's Mirela Rahneva also climbing up the leaderboard in the second run to finish just off the podium in fourth.

Nikitina tied her own track record at the start with another brilliant opening to her run, and laid down the gauntlet for final slider Hermann – World Champion and World Cup champion in 2016 – to follow.

Hermann had triumphed in the last World Cup event at Park City, but a mistake going into turn 14 cost her dear as she was edged out by just 0.02 of a second.

Sportsbeat 2017