Minichiello: Racers well prepared

Former British bobsleigh world champion Nicola Minichiello insists her sport remains as safe as ever despite the serious injuries suffered by Fiona Harrison and Serita Shone in Germany.

Shone underwent spinal surgery following an accident on a training run for the British Championships in Winterburg, while driver Harrison was also detained in hospital with head injuries. But Minichiello - who said Harrison was "desperate to get back on a sled" after speaking to her - said the seriousness of the accident was most likely down to "an unfortunate twist of fate."

Minichiello, who is now the head of development for the International Bobsleigh Federation, told the Press Association: "Crashing is part and parcel of a sport in which you constantly have to push the edge, but fatalities and serious injuries are a million to one. Every racer is fully trained and prepared for what might happen in the event of a crash."

She added: "They all wear the correct equipment and in the vast majority of cases they will walk away with nothing more than bruises."

Minichiello and her then race partner Gillian Cooke crashed out of the Vancouver Winter Olympics two years ago and Minichiello announced her retirement shortly afterwards.

Harrison, a former team-mate of Minichiello's and also a former heptathlete, moved up to the driver's seat two years ago and was joined by Shone, another ex-heptathlete, only last month.

British Bobsleigh performance director Gary Anderson confirmed to the BBC that Shone had undergone surgery shortly after the crash and was under sedation in hospital.

Anderson told BBC Sport: "I can confirm they were injured during a training run for the British Championships.

"Serita has had spinal surgery and is still under sedation. My focus now is on the two athletes and their families."