Katie Tannenbaum refused to let a collision with a broom stop her from finishing the skeleton race in Innsbruck-Igls ©Getty Images

Skeleton racer Katie Tannenbaum had a brush with danger after smashing through a broom during her run at the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup event in Innsbruck-Igls.

After sliding around a corner, Tannenbaum of the US Virgin Islands slammed straight into the brush which was laid across the track.

But the incident, which came halfway into her run, failed to knock Tannenbaum off course as she went on to complete it in 57.89sec, finishing in last place.

The 35-year-old did not appear to have been harmed as she got up from her sled and, according to reports, she said she was "okay".

Given the high speeds skeleton racers reach, the incident could have had serious consequences for Tannenbaum's health.

A similar incident occurred on the Austrian track five years ago when Canadian Jane Channell also struck a stray broom on the ice.

Reigning European champion Elena Nikitina won today’s event which was cut short after the first run due to "irregular conditions".

The Russian posted a winning time of 53.74 as Kimberley Bos of The Netherlands came second with 54.02.

Austria’s Janine Flock was bidding for a third straight victory after back-to-back wins in Sigulda in Latvia.

But the 31-year-old had to settle for joint third as he finished in 54.19 - the same time as Germany’s Tina Hermann.

Katie Tannenbaum faces a broom left on the track during her first run in Austria ©teledeporte
Katie Tannenbaum faces a broom left on the track during her first run in Austria ©teledeporte

Elisabeth Maier, of Canada, came seventh in her first race since giving birth in December last year.

There was a tie for top spot in the men’s race as Latvian Martins Dukurs and Russian Alexander Tretiakov posted exactly the same overall time of 1min 45.52sec after two runs.

Russia’s Nikita Tregubov, a silver medallist at Pyeongchang 2018, finished third with 1:45.54 to secure a first podium place since January 2019.

Britain’s Matt Weston was tied for the lead with Dukurs at the halfway stage only to slip to fourth after the second run.

Dukurs, a two-time Olympic silver medallist, leads the way in the overall World Cup standings with 675 points after starting the season with three wins from three.

Germany’s Alexander Gassner is second on 578 ahead of Tretiakov on 560.

Flock is the overall women’s leader on 650, with Bos second on 620 and Nikitina third on 587.

Racers are due to return to Innsbruck-Igls on December 18 for the fourth leg of the season.

Women's monobob and men's two-man bobsleigh races are scheduled tomorrow.