Skeleton racer Hollingsworth ends 2-year gold drought

Canada's Mellisa Hollingsworth ended a two-year victory drought on the World Cup skeleton circuit with a gold medal on Saturday in La Plagne, France.

Americans Annie O'Shea and Katie Uhlaender took the silver and bronze medals.

Hollingsworth had the fastest time in each of the two runs, finishing in a combined two minutes 6.09 seconds. O'Shea was 0.37 seconds back, Uhlaender another 0.18 seconds off the Canadian's pace.

Hollingsworth's last victory came during the 2010 Olympic year in Konigssee, Germany.

"It was a good one and first in a long time so I'm really happy," said Hollingsworth, who hadn't raced in La Plagne since the last time the World Cup stopped in the French town back in 2000. "Things have changed so much and I don't remember anything. It was a really intense week of learning with the team walking the track and watching video which was exhausting so this is nice to win."

Two other Canadian sleds entered the women’s race on Saturday. Calgary’s Sarah Reid finished in eighth place at 2:07.25, while Amy Gough, of Abbotsford, B.C., placed 12th with a time of 2:07.81.