bobsleighing all of a sudden became a REALLY cool sport!

British bobsleigh slider Gillian Cooke was exposed to the true perils of the sport during a world championship race in St Moritz - when television cameras showed her lycra body suit splitting open to reveal her backside.

The more obvious dangers of bobsleigh usually concern hurtling down an icy track at speeds of up to 80mph, but as Cooke (on the left of the photo with team-mate Nicola Minichielle) found out to her embarrassment in Switzerland, there are other risks involved too.

As she bent over her sled at the top of the run in Switzerland, the spandex suit she was wearing tore open to reveal her bottom and a black g-string.

Scottish-born Cooke was preparing to jump into the bobsleigh with Minichielle when the wardrobe malfunction occurred, although she only became aware of her faux pas following her arrival at the finish line.

Eurosport commentators Martin Haven and Dean Macey could barely conceal their mirth at Cooke's misfortune and were heard to say: "Gill's going to need a new race suit - looking a bit chilly out there!"

Cooke and Minichielle, both bound for February's Winter Olympics in Vancouver, finished seventh.