Steele misses out on Games

MICHELLE Steele’s dream of competing in her second Olympics is over.

The Innes Park skeleton racer has missed out on one of the two Australian women’s skeleton spots which were given to Emma Lincoln-Smith and Melissa Hoar.

Hoar, the 2006 world junior champion, finished the qualification period ranked 12th in the world and Lincoln-Smith, who was fifth at the 2008 World Championship, was 13th. Steele was 18th.

They will be joined at the Games in Vancouver by men’s competitor Anthony Deane, a 25-year-old former member of the Australian handball team.

A recent run of disappointing performances in World Cup and other events ended up costing Steele as she slipped down the rankings.