Canada's Vathje, Rahneva reach podium in World Cup skeleton

Canadians Elisabeth Vathje and Mirela Rahneva both came away with medals at the World Cup skeleton race in Innsbruck, Austria, on Friday.

​Elena Nikitina of Russia won the event with a time of one minute 48.80 seconds. Nikitina has been banned from competing in February's Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea for doping at the 2014 Games in Sochi. She won a bronze there but was later stripped of the medal.

Elisabeth Vathje earns 3rd skeleton World Cup silver medal of the season

7 years ago

Duration 2:07

The Calgarian finished second at the IBSF World Cup in Innsbruck. It's her third medal of the season, and all of them have been silver.

Calgary's Vathje claimed her third silver of the season — having also finished second in Lake Placid, N.Y., and Winterberg, Germany — clocking in 0.58 seconds behind the winner. Rahneva, from Ottawa, took third in 1:49.44 for her first medal this season. 

"The only thing better than sharing the podium with [Rahneva], would be to share it with both [Rahneva] and Jane [Channell]," said Vathje.

"I think it shows the strength in our program, and we are here to fight. All three Canadians moved up from their spots after the first run and that shows the tenacity in our team."

Mirela Rahneva slides to 1st skeleton World Cup medal of the season

7 years ago

Duration 2:08

The Ottawa native moved up from 7th place after her first run, all the way up to to third place overall at the IBSF World Cup in Innsbruck. The bronze medal is her first of the season.

Channell of North Vancouver finished 14th to round out the Canadians in the field.  

Vathje is now second overall in the World Cup standings with 966 points, followed by Rahneva at 920 as both sliders have cracked the top 10 at each of the five events so far. 

Germany's Jacqueline Loelling finished fourth, but still leads with 1,002 points.