Winter Olympics 2018: Lizzy Yarnold admits sinus problem after slipping from first to third at half way point of skeleton competition
Defending champ is looking to win Team GB's first gold medal of the PyeongChang Games but suffered a serious setback going into day two
LIZZY YARNOLD'S hopes of retaining her Olympic title suffered a blow as she slipped from gold to bronze position at the half-way mark in the women's skeleton.
The 2014 gold medal winner was in first place after setting a course record in the opening heat of the event.
But she admitted she has been having problems with her sinuses and has been struggling to breathe in PyeongChang, where temperatures are hitting as low as -8C.
Yarnold is currently third on 1 min 43.96sec and 0.1sec behind leader Jacqueline Loelling of Germany in first and 0.08sec behind Janine Flock of Austria in second.
While the omens do not look ideal for Yarnold, she still has two runs to go and could well still become the first Brit to win Olympic gold two Games running.
Also in the hunt is Britain's Laura Dees, who had a confidence-boosting second heat, moving up to fourth place just 0.07sec behind Yarnold.
Yarnold, 29, said: "It was a much faster track than it had been in training. I've got a bit of a throat and sore sinusy thing going on.
"I think I'm just struggling to breathe enough. It's very cold here and it's actually a little bit dusty as well.
"I'm doing lots of steaming over a bowl, which is quite nice.
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"It's actually a brilliant track and it's been a great first night racing.
"This is the bit I love, everyone goes home a little bit nervous. I get a great night's sleep and then everyone fighting for it again tomorrow.