Sporting history has been made in the women's skeleton thanks to an incredible silver-medal performance from Jackie Narracott, who has won the first ever sliding sport medal for Australia at an Olympic Games.
In one of the most terrifying and daring sports at the Olympics, Jackie showed nerves of steel over the two days of competition to make Australia proud in a performance for the ages.
An achievement 10 years in the making for Jackie, she started the second night of her competition with a run that was almost textbook perfect. It began with a stunning push start in just 5.27 seconds and Jackie was looking composed on the first few turns, in clear control of her sled and the aerodynamics as she began to pick up speed.
A little battle out of corner four and into five didn't seem to faze the sliding sensation, as she quickly recovered and reached a top speed of 126.8km/h.
Jackie completed her run in record time (1:01.79), setting a new track record at the time on the ‘Dragon' course which helped her overall time (3:06.13). That third run was good enough for Jackie to hold the silver medal position entering everyone's fourth and final run.
Germany's Hannah Neise, who won the gold, followed Jackie's third run by eclipsing her track record with a time of 1:01.44 to bring her overall time to a leading 3:05.99.
There was just 0.14 seconds between the two athletes and an incredibly tight top seven, which all set up for a tight finish for the medals.
The order of competitors on the fourth and final run was adjusted to have the fastest athletes take their turn last, which meant there was an agonising 90-minute build up for Jackie.
Jackie had the second last run of the competition, and with ice in her veins she put herself in prime position to slide into history.
With a strong start, something consistent across all of her performances, Jackie flew down the track in perfect control. A sliding hero before she even stepped onto the track for her last shot at the medals, Jackie's incredible driving of her sled led to another fast time of 1:02.11 which gave her an overall time of 4:08.24.
Overcome with emotion, Jackie's performance guaranteed herself a medal. The skeleton superstar secured a silver medal for not just her home state of Queensland, but all of Australia.
When Jackie was asked about her performance, she said she had hoped for her best on the day.
"I think coming in [before winning gold at Saint Moritz in January] I would have been happy with top ten." Jackie said.
"After my Saint Moritz result, I knew it was a possibility [for a medal] but our field of competitors is ridiculous so to come out with this is pretty incredible.
"I don't think you can [describe the feeling of winning an Olympic medal]. It's just everything I've dreamt of. It's going to take a while for everything to sink in."
It was a performance that shocked the Skeleton world. The historic achievement is even more incredible give it was only a few years ago a severe concussion left Jackie unsure if she would ever drive a car again, let alone a skeleton sled to win an Olympic silver medal.
he credits Dom Parsons who is her husband, coach and an Olympic medallist for playing a vital role in the comeback.
"It's so nice to share this with him. To have him by my side and have me calm is just the best."
"It's everything to me to finally get here, and to finally do this is unbelievable.
"I can't wait to see family at the airport and put this around their neck. We did it.
"I would love this to be catalyst for more girls to get into this sport."
With a face of elation, tears of joy, a huge smile and a silver medal - it was a moment that Jackie and an entire nation will never forget.
olympics.com.au
Shannon Knaus
In one of the most terrifying and daring sports at the Olympics, Jackie showed nerves of steel over the two days of competition to make Australia proud in a performance for the ages.
An achievement 10 years in the making for Jackie, she started the second night of her competition with a run that was almost textbook perfect. It began with a stunning push start in just 5.27 seconds and Jackie was looking composed on the first few turns, in clear control of her sled and the aerodynamics as she began to pick up speed.
A little battle out of corner four and into five didn't seem to faze the sliding sensation, as she quickly recovered and reached a top speed of 126.8km/h.
Jackie completed her run in record time (1:01.79), setting a new track record at the time on the ‘Dragon' course which helped her overall time (3:06.13). That third run was good enough for Jackie to hold the silver medal position entering everyone's fourth and final run.
Germany's Hannah Neise, who won the gold, followed Jackie's third run by eclipsing her track record with a time of 1:01.44 to bring her overall time to a leading 3:05.99.
There was just 0.14 seconds between the two athletes and an incredibly tight top seven, which all set up for a tight finish for the medals.
The order of competitors on the fourth and final run was adjusted to have the fastest athletes take their turn last, which meant there was an agonising 90-minute build up for Jackie.
Jackie had the second last run of the competition, and with ice in her veins she put herself in prime position to slide into history.
With a strong start, something consistent across all of her performances, Jackie flew down the track in perfect control. A sliding hero before she even stepped onto the track for her last shot at the medals, Jackie's incredible driving of her sled led to another fast time of 1:02.11 which gave her an overall time of 4:08.24.
Overcome with emotion, Jackie's performance guaranteed herself a medal. The skeleton superstar secured a silver medal for not just her home state of Queensland, but all of Australia.
When Jackie was asked about her performance, she said she had hoped for her best on the day.
"I think coming in [before winning gold at Saint Moritz in January] I would have been happy with top ten." Jackie said.
"After my Saint Moritz result, I knew it was a possibility [for a medal] but our field of competitors is ridiculous so to come out with this is pretty incredible.
"I don't think you can [describe the feeling of winning an Olympic medal]. It's just everything I've dreamt of. It's going to take a while for everything to sink in."
It was a performance that shocked the Skeleton world. The historic achievement is even more incredible give it was only a few years ago a severe concussion left Jackie unsure if she would ever drive a car again, let alone a skeleton sled to win an Olympic silver medal.
he credits Dom Parsons who is her husband, coach and an Olympic medallist for playing a vital role in the comeback.
"It's so nice to share this with him. To have him by my side and have me calm is just the best."
"It's everything to me to finally get here, and to finally do this is unbelievable.
"I can't wait to see family at the airport and put this around their neck. We did it.
"I would love this to be catalyst for more girls to get into this sport."
With a face of elation, tears of joy, a huge smile and a silver medal - it was a moment that Jackie and an entire nation will never forget.
olympics.com.au
Shannon Knaus
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