Olympics: Cooke faces sweat over spot

EDINBURGH'S Gillian Cooke faces an anxious wait today after having to pull out of her final event in the race for places in the Winter Olympics team due to illness.

The former Scotland long-jump champion leapt from the podium after a win in St Moritz yesterday, succumbing after the award ceremony to a sickness bug which has swept teams on the circuit.

The European Championships and final World Cup event are being held in Igls, Austria today. "But I won't be racing," said Cooke. Her place will be taken by Fiona Harrison, her rival for the Olympic place.

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"Final nominations are to be announced tomorrow, and I should probably know then," added Cooke, who became an internet sensation last week after splitting her lycra skinsuit moments before the start of a race last weekend. "Fiona could take the place. It's possible I could lose out."

Cooke, the brakewoman, and Sheffield driver Nicola Minichiello enjoyed a timely win in yesterday's Europa Cup event in St Moritz – their first success since being crowned as world bobsleigh champion last year.

The duo finished the two runs 0.16 of a second ahead of Germany.