Australia is set to have women's skeleton and women's bobsleigh athletes at an Olympic Games for the first time following the latest round of World Cup competition in Europe overnight.

Skeleton athlete Michelle Steele has continued her remarkable form by finishing in sixth place in Konigssee, her third top six result in three events. Steele slid the German course in a time of one minute 41.34 seconds, 1.38 seconds slower than race winner Melissa Hollingsworth-Richards of Canada.

Steele's team-mate Emma Lincoln-Smith finished in 25th place.

The result maintained Australia's ranking of sixth in the world, guaranteeing a start for one athlete in the 15-woman Torino 2006 field.

Steele is set to take the spot, though she is yet to be officially nominated by the Australian Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association, or selected by the Australian Olympic Committee.

Competing on the same Konigssee course, Australia's number one bobsleigh duo of Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Kylie Reed also guaranteed an Australian place in Torino,

Loch-Wilkinson drove to 17th place in a time of one minute 44.49 seconds, 1.89 seconds slower than gold medallist Susi Lisa Erdmann of Germany, who was competing on her home track.

The result left the Australian pilot at 19th place on the World Cup standings, but at 15th on an Olympic-adjusted calculation which takes account of the fact that only two sleds per nation are allowed to start in the Games.Only the top 15 pilots qualify for a Torino start.

In men's skeleton, Shaun Boyle continued his quest for an Olympic start, finishing in 33rd place in Konigssee The Australian men's bobsleigh team will attempt to qualify for Torino in a Challenge Cup event later this week.

OWI