SHELLEY Rudman’s build-up to her assault on Winter Olympics gold starts in earnest in Canada tomorrow.

Pewsey’s reigning world champion, 32, opens her season with the opening race in the eight-round FIBT World Cup series in Calgary at 5.15pm (British time).

The Wiltshire women, who claimed her first global title with victory in the World Championships at St Moritz, Switzerland in February, spent a few days back in Britain after a fortnight’s training at the 2014 Winter Olympic venue of Sochi earlier this month.

Her pre-selection for the first half of the World Cup campaign by British Skeleton chiefs freed her from the qualification process and allowed her to concentrate on her preparations for the season and Sochi in particular.

British Skeleton head coach Andi Schmid said: “Shelley has a lot of experience so she knows more how to deal with the pressure and everything around her. She already has her medal and a clear goal possibly to win the (Olympic) gold.’’

2006 Winter Olympic silver medallist Rudman was recently named as one of six women in the frame for the 2013 Sunday Times and Sky Sports Sportswoman of the Year accolade.

Rudman was third behind British compatriot Lizzy Yarnold the last time Calgary hosted a World Cup round in February 2012 – the season that the mum of one claimed the World Cup title for the first time in her career.

Follow Shelley’s progress in Calgary at gazetteandherald.co.uk/sport tomorrow and throughout this season in the Gazette & Herald