China win bobsleigh and Skeleton mixed team gold at IBSF World Cup

China enjoyed a solid bobsleigh and skeleton display at the St. Moritz leg of the IBSF World Cup on Friday, highlighted by Yin Zheng and Zhao Dan winning gold in the mixed team skeleton event, which is a new addition to the Winter Olympic programme with the games getting underway next month in Italy.  

China had two pairs in the competition. Team one was made up of Zhao and Yin with Zhao the first to take to the track. The 23-year-old won China's first women's skeleton gold at the Yanqing leg of the World Cup last season and she clocked in a time of 1 minute 14.13 seconds at St. Moritz to sit second on the women's side. 

Then Yin achieved a time of 1 minute 12.03 seconds to rank second for the men. The total of their scores is 2 minutes 26.16 seconds, which was enough for them to claim their first gold of this World Cup season. 

Meanwhile, in the men's skeleton, Yin also made the podium. His total time for the two rounds was 2 minutes 26.16 seconds, a result that earned him a bronze medal. Great Britain's Matt Weston took the gold in 2 minutes 16.58 seconds. 

This event in Switzerland is the penultimate qualifying chance before the Winter Olympics next month. Yin has picked up three bronze medals, two fourth place finishes and one sixth places finish in the six qualifying events so far this season and is ranked second in the overall standings.