GB's Stoecker wins Skeleton World Cup gold

Great Britain's Tabby Stoecker has won a Skeleton World Cup gold medal on just her second start.

The 23-year-old former gymnast and acrobat headed a 31-strong field in La Plagne, France, to secure victory.

She clocked a combined time of two minutes 5.13 seconds to beat current World Cup champion Tina Hermann and Olympic champion Hannah Neise.

"It's an amazing feeling. I can't stop smiling. I can't quite believe it, to be honest," said the Londoner.

It is Great Britain's first women's Skeleton World Cup gold since Laura Deas won in Altenberg eight years ago.

Stoecker only had 13 international appearances at any level to her name before Friday's race and had featured in a World Cup competition just once before when finishing 12th in Winterberg last season.

The European junior champion was the fastest starter in each heat and sat second behind 2022 Olympic bronze medal winner Kimberley Bos at halfway.

Stoecker sealed victory by seventh hundredths of a second from American Mystique Ro, with Dutch slider Bos in third.

She joins joins Deas, double Olympic champion Lizzy Yarnold, 2006 Olympic silver medallist Shelley Rudman and 2002 Olympic bronze medallist Alex Coomber in taking top spot in a women's World Cup competition.

"I wasn't sure what to expect today so I was pretty emotional at the finish. To win gold in my second ever World cup race just completely astounded me," said Stoecker.

"I knew I had put down some solid training runs but I never imagined that I'd take gold against such a great field.

"To see the World Cup team winning medals last year was amazing so to be doing that myself today is pretty special. Thanks to all the team who have helped make this happen."

Stoecker is the sixth British slider to win a World Cup or World Championship medal over the past 12 months.

She took up skeleton having once excelled at flying trapeze and having been a British schools gymnastics champion.

"It's a fantastic result for Tabby, absolutely outstanding," said British Skeleton's performance director Natalie Dunman.

"To win a gold medal in just her second World Cup race at this level is almost unheard of and it shows how much potential Tabby has in this sport."

Fellow Britons Freya Tarbit and Amelia Coltman were 14th and 20th respectively.