KRASNAYA POLYANA, Russia — Britain's Lizzy Yarnold won the season's first race on a technicality.
In the season's last race, there was no argument.
Yarnold won the Olympic women's skeleton gold medal Friday night, a victory that puts the 25-year-old unquestionably atop her sport, probably for years to come. Her four-run time was 0.97 seconds faster than silver medalist Noelle Pikus-Pace of Eagle Mountain, Utah, who entered retirement by exorcising the memory of letting a medal slip away in Vancouver four years ago.
“It won't sink in for a few more days, but I'm over the moon,” Yarnold said as a full moon illuminated part of the Russian night sky. “I'm so proud. I put in all the work for five years, and it all worked out.”
Yarnold, who also won the World Cup overall title this season, claimed Britain's first gold at the Sochi Games. Her time was 3 minutes, 52.89 seconds, and the final trip down the track was a mere formality, given that she already had a 0.78-second edge over Pikus-Pace and only needed to avoid a giant mistake.
The fourth run was like all the others — flawless.
Elena Nikitina of Russia won the bronze, another 0.44 seconds off the pace and just 0.04 seconds ahead of Katie Uhlaender of Breckenridge, Colo., who took fourth for her top Olympic finish.
And afterward, Uhlaender wasn't lamenting coming so close. Instead, she picked up Pikus-Pace's daughter Lacee, gave her an embrace and sang her teammate's praises.
The Lizzy-vs.-Noelle rivalry was back and forth all season, starting with the World Cup opener in Calgary, where Pikus-Pace crossed the line first and was originally announced as the winner. But Yarnold was awarded the victory after race officials said the American used too much tape on the handle of her sled.
