Parsons in contention asWelsh star Deas begins her skeleton campaign

DOM Parsons downplayed the impact of the technological advances which have irked rival teams and helped him slide into Winter Olympics medal contention.

Parsons finished 0.03 seconds behind bronze medal position at the halfway stage of the men’s skeleton competition after rivals questioned the legality of the skinsuits worn by Great Britain’s sliders.

South Korea’s Yun Sung-bin led by a huge margin of 0.74 seconds with a total time of one minute 40.35 seconds after two runs.

Parsons was equal fifth after the first run and trailed Yun by 0.91secs overall after the second, 0.03 behind Latvia’s Martins Dukurs in bronze medal position.

The two concluding runs take place today, when Parsons, ranked 12th in the world this season, could win a surprise first British medal of the Games.

Asked if the podium was within reach, Parsons said: “It’s what I’ve been aiming for for the last four years, so I hope so.

“But let’s not get ahead of ourselves too much. I’ll just focus on the next two runs.”

The International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation has approved the British skinsuits for competition.

And Parsons insisted sliding techniques have a greater influence than the aerodynamic improvements British sliders are benefiting from here and which have been the subject of rivals’ complaints.

Parsons attributed his advances to work with former British number one Kristan Bromley, whose brother Richard coaches the South Korean sliders, including Yun.

“It is a bit (like Formula One), obviously not with the same kind of budget or divas as some have a reputation for,” Parsons added.

“The sliding element you can’t do that much. You stick a random guy off the street in an F1 car and he won’t even be able to get it started.

“Those little differences you can make in technology do have an impact.”

Defending champion Lizzy Yarnold and team-mate Laura Deas, from Wrexham, were due to their campaigns in the corresponding women’s event today.

Meanwhile, Great Britain’s women’s curling team bounced back from an earlier disappointment yesterday to edge past China.

Skip Eve Muirhead admitted mistakes had cost her side dear in a 7-4 loss to the US, but she held her nerve to return with an 8-7 victory in an extra end.

Kyle Smith’s GB men’s team beat Japan 6-5 to also move to two wins and one loss from their first three games.