Bree Walker has claimed the first Australian world cup podium of the Olympic season.
 
Walker continued her strong start in World Cup competition, with an impressive performance in the monobob discipline in  Innsbruck, Austria, taking home the bronze medal in the second event of the IBSF tour.
 
Monobob is set to make its debut at the 2022 Olympic Winter Games in Beijing, with Walker regarded as one of the leading athletes in the sport, having finished the 2020-2021 season ranked second in the world.
 
The 29-year-old from Queensland was in second place after the first round of competition and moved back one place to finish in third place after the second run.
 
The event was won by American Elana Meyers Taylor, with German Laura Nolte in second.
 
“We made a few important changes this week which obviously had a huge impact”, said Walker after stepping off the podium.
 
“This race certainly gives me confidence, but this season is a marathon, not a sprint, so we hope to build of this result and continue to trust the process for the rest of the season.”
 
Also in action for Australia was Ashley Werner, who finished in 21st place.
 
Walker and Werner will be back in action tonight in Innsbruck, competing in the two-woman bobsleigh World Cup.

IMAGE: IBSF/Viesturs Lacis

Jackie Narracott has placed 19th in the second IBSF World Cup of the season in Innsbruck, Austria. 

Competing for the second week in row on the Igls track, Narracott was 1.73 seconds behind event winner Elena Nikitina from Russia.

In the men's event, Dean Timmings competed in his first World Cup of the season, finishing in 29th place.

The Bobsleigh and Skeleton tour now heads to Altenberg, Germany, for the next round of World Cup of competition next weekend.

Bree Walker has made a strong start at the opening Woman's Monobob World Series event in Innsbruck, Austria, narrowly missing the podium in sixth place.

In a tight race, after two runs just 0.25 seconds separated Walker from event winner Elana Meyers Taylor of the USA, and just 0.11 from claiming the bronze medal.
 
Rounding out the podium was Meyers Taylor teammate Kallie Humphries in second place with German Laura Nolte in third.
 
"I'm very happy to start the season off with a top six place," said the 29-year-old Walker.

"Of course we always look for the podium but this is a very different year.

"No-one is messing around and you can see that by how tight the field is but it makes for really fun racing.


Ashley Werner also made her debut in a Monobob World Series event, finishing in 19th place.
 
Both athletes are aiming to compete for Australia when Monobob makes its debut at the Beijing Olympic Winter Games in February.
 
Werner and breakwoman Kiara Reddingius also made their World Cup debut in the two-woman bobsleigh event, finishing the highest placed  Australians in 19th, with Walker and her breakwoman Sarah Blizzard just behind in 22nd.
 
The Bobsleigh and Skeleton World Cup tour will remain in Innsbruck for one more week, with additional weekend of competition next weekend..

IMAGE: ©Rekords/IBSF

Competing in her first World Cup event for almost 12 months, Jackie Narracott has had a confidence boosting performance at the opening IBSF Skeleton World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria.
 
The 2018 Olympian was sitting in 18th position after the first run, but had a strong performance in her second run, recording the eighth fastest time of all competitors and a much improved final two-run ranking of 13th.
 
Taking the win was Russian slider Elena Nikitina, with Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands in second place, and Kim Meylemans of Belgium in third.
 
“I am happy with my result today”, said the 31-year-old from Queensland.
 
“My second run was much more indicative of my capability and I'm glad I got the chance to show it.
 
“I knew I had that run in me if I got my composure back to the level it needed to be. Also keeping my sled straight out of the groove helped a lot! In run one, neither of those things were as good as I would've liked and with the way the other girls are sliding you've got to be on your game at all times.
 
“Being back on the World Cup tour feels like home and I'm loving being back with friends. I missed it last year.”
 
Also in action for Australia in the men’s event was Elliot Brown, who made his World Cup debut finishing in 29th place.
 
The Skeleton athletes will remain in Innsbruck for another week, with a second World cup event taking place on the Igls track next weekend.

IMAGE: ©Rekords/IBSF