Chinese skeleton athlete makes first ever podium finish at World Cup

LA PLAGNE, France - Chinese skeleton athlete Geng Wenqiang made a historic breakthrough by bagging a bronze at 2019/2020 IBSF World Cup in La Plagne on Friday, this is the very first skeleton podium position for China.

The 24-year-old finished in joint third place, along with the 2018 Olympic champion, Yun Sungbin of South Korea. Both athletes completed the race 1.39 seconds behind the winner, Alexander Tretiakov of Russia.

Tretiakov finished his first run in 59.28 seconds, half a second faster than the previous track record. The former track record holder, Martins Dukurs of Latvia, came in second with 0.37 seconds behind.

Another Chinese athlete Yan Wengang ranked 15th with two minutes and 1.35 seconds.

Martins Dukurs currently has a slight lead at the halfway point at the overall rankings. Following his win in La Plagne and in second place overall, Tretiakov is just four points behind, Germany's Axel Jungk has slipped to third place after coming fifth in La Plagne.

In women's competition, Elena Nikitina of Russia won with one minute and 1.35 seconds in heat two, 1.5 seconds faster than the old track records. Nikitinina secured a 0.65-second lead over Austrian Janine Flock in second place, Jacqueline Loelling of Germany finished third.

China's Lin Huiyang ranked 19th with two minutes and 5.99 seconds.

In the overall standings for the IBSF World Cup, Loelling holds a narrow lead at the mid-way point in the season. The 2018 Olympic silver medallist currently has 827 points, which puts her ahead of Flock and Nikitina.