Kelsea Purchall is the Youth Olympic monobob bronze medallist following today’s nail-biting finale at Lillehammer 2016.
In snowy conditions in Norway, Purchall just edged out Team GB teammate Annabel Chaffey into fourth while Aimee Davey ended the day one place further back in fifth at the Lillehammer Sliding Centre.
Purchall finished with a combined time of 1:57.67 from her two runs, 0.26 seconds off Germany’s Laura Nolte who took gold and 0.02 seconds shy of Mercedes Schulte from Austria who won silver.
The 17-year-old from Exeter had come into the event ranked number one in the world and was delighted to win bronze after sitting outside the medals after her first run.
“I’m amazed to win bronze and I didn’t think it was going to happen after my first run and sitting in fourth,” said Purchall.
“I really had to buck my game up for the second run and knew I had to try harder and perform better.
“I put down a good second run and had my fastest ever start time so I’m really pleased with that – I don’t think I could have done any better.”
In the men’s event, George Johnston finished sixth with a time of 1:55.48, 1.19 seconds off eventual winner Jonas Jannusch of Germany.
Team GB’s Opening Ceremony flagbearer had been third heading into run two but despite early errors costing him a place on the podium, Johnston was upbeat at the end of his competition time in Norway.
“The race didn’t go to plan but I can’t change what’s happened and I’m just happy to be here at the Games,” said Johnston.
“It still feels good to come sixth in the world and my focus is now on next year and I’m hoping to be able to compete in the two-man.”
Across in the curling, Ross Whyte will compete for a medal tomorrow in the mixed doubles after he and Chinese partner Yu Han beat Selina Witschonke of Switzerland and Jarl Gustsin of Estonia 6-5 to book a place in the semi-finals.
However it wasn’t to be for Callum Kinnear after he and his Italian partner Stefania Constantini narrowly lost their quarter-final 10-9 to the China-Norwegian double act of Ruiyi Zhao and Andreas Haarstad.
Whyte and Yu will play the Japan-Canada pairing tomorrow morning for a place in the gold medal match with the losers contesting for bronze from midday GMT.