Walker and Thomas overturned during heat three

The notoriously-fast Whistler Olympic bobsleigh track is to be made safer after a series of crashes.

The profile of several turns on the course, which has also been used by the luge and skeleton events, will be more forgiving for drivers.

After three crashes in Sunday's training session, British pair Paula Walker and Kelly Thomas were unhurt after tipping their sled on Monday.

Georgia luger Nodar Kumaritashvili died in a crash on the eve of the Games.

He was killed after he was catapulted from his sled on a training run while negotiating the 16th and final corner of the Whistler Sliding Centre course.

The changes will be based around the 13th turn, dubbed '50:50', and will involve shaving the ice to change the shape of the turn.

United States coach Brian Shimer believes the track will still be fast, even if it allows for a wider margin of error.

Bobsleighers seek more GB success

"It's still going to be the toughest track in the world. No doubt," he said.

Walker and Thomas' sled turned upside down near turn 10 and slid all the way over the finish line, but the pair clambered out and walked away unharmed.

They were then 20th quickest on their next run.

Thomas said: "It's always better to get straight back in again after a crash."

She added: "That's what training's for - to try new things. Until you've tried them you don't know whether they're right or wrong."

Meanwhile, British reigning world champions Nicola Minichiello and Gillian Cooke had a mixed training session ahead of the women's two-man bobsleigh event, which starts on Wednesday (0100 GMT).

The duo were a disappointing 15th fastest on their third training run before improving to finish joint fifth in their second run.

Minichiello said: "We're ironing out the mistakes one by one and that's what training is for.

"It's finding the rhythm and heartbeat of the track. This season has been all about the Olympics and we're in the shape of our lives."

British two-man team John Jackson and Dan Money crashed out on Saturday.

They were one of four crews to overturn in the men's heats.

The four-man sleds, which are trickier to control, begin competition on the track on Friday.

GB crash in two-man bobsleigh

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