SKELETON world champion Shelley Rudman will miss the forthcoming skeleton season this winter after announcing she is expecting her second child.

Pewsey's 2006 Olympic silver medallist Rudman, who clinched the global title at the end of the 2012-13 season, revealed the news via her website and will miss the entire 2013-14 campaign.

The 33-year-old was 16th in the Sochi Winter Olympics this year, as British teammate Lizzy Yarnold won gold, and was still mulling over whether to aim for a fourth Olympic Games in Pyeongchang, South Korea in 2018.

Rudman said on her website: "We have some very exciting news to share.

"In the new year Kristan and I will be welcoming a new addition to our family. We are all super excited, and Ella is over the moon that she will become a big sister.

"This means that I will not be competing in the forthcoming competitive season and defending my World championship title, but instead looking forward to getting everything prepared and welcoming our new arrival into the world…which means lots of shopping for the new baby!!

Rudman gave birth to Ella in October 2007, the year after her Olympic silver success in Turin.

She went on to win the 2011-12 World Cup crown before becoming the first British woman to win the World Championship title in St Moritz, Switzerland.