Canada's Hollingsworth 3rd in skeleton opener

Canadian Mellisa Hollingsworth won bronze in the season-opening skeleton World Cup race Friday at Igls, Austria.

Olga Potylitsina of Russia notched her first career victory in a two-run combined time of one minute 49.39 seconds to beat Emma Lincoln-Smith of Australia by 0.23.

Lincoln-Smith, earning her first podium finish, led after the first heat but was only sixth fastest in the second.

Hollingsworth, Olympic bronze medallist and two-time Overall World Cup champion from Eckville, Alta., was 0.27 back in third. Defending World Cup champion Anja Huber of Germany took fourth, 0.35 behind Potylitsina.

"I messed up my first start where I lost quite a bit of oomph, but I still had a personal best with that mistake so I'm happy with it today," said Hollingsworth.

The bronze medal run was the fifth podium finish of Hollingsworth's career in Igls.

"This race is so tight and always separated by hundredths of a second," said Hollingsworth. "People can come here with little experience and do very well because it is short and dependent on the start. It is not one of my favourite tracks, but every year I come here I'm open to learning."

Calgary's Sarah Reid was 10th and Amy Gough of Abbotsford, B.C., 11th.

The skeleton meet at the Olympia track continues with a men's race on Saturday.