2022 Olympians Bree Walker and Kiarra Reddingius have finished in eighth place in the two-woman event on the historic St Moritz hand cut ice track in Switzerland.
 
Warm weather impacted the week, forcing the monobob to be rescheduled for later in January, leaving the female athletes to only contest the two-woman event in St Moritz.
 
In the first run, the pair were looking at a top-five run, but Walker’s helmet visor unfortunately fogged up as the run went on making driving difficult, finishing with the tenth fastest time in 1:09.66 seconds.  
 
Walker and Reddingius improved in the second run, recording the eighth fastest time in 1:08.69 seconds, which moved them up into eighth on the final rankings in a two-run combined time of 2:18.35 seconds.
 
“In the first run I couldn’t see most of the way down, so couldn’t do much more than feel my way down the track“ said the QAS bobsleigh pilot.
 
“The second run was much better, so a solid result after a very interrupted week of training.”

Fellow QAS pilot Sarah Blizzard and brakewoman Hayley Silvester just missed the cut for the second run placing 23rd after a run one time of 1.11.69. 
 
The IBSF World Cup tour now heads to Innsbruck Austria, where Walker, Reddingius and Blizzard will compete in the monobob on January 18 and two-woman on January 19.

Bree Walker has claimed Australia’s first winter sports World Cup medal of 2025, with a bronze medal performance in the World Cup monobob event in Winterberg, Germany, in a spectacular day of competition which saw a number of track records fall in the final run.
 
The podium finish is the second straight for the QAS bobsleigh pilot, and the ninth of her World Cup career.
 
Walker was third after the first run with a time of 58.67 seconds, then was faster in the second run, momentarily holding the track record in a time of 58.44 seconds. and a two-run combined time of 1:57.11 seconds.
 
The final two athletes also broke the track record, German Lisa Buckwitz won with a combined time of 1:56.83, 0.28 seconds ahead of Walker while Swiss pilot Melanie Hasler of Switzerland finished second in 1:56.92.
 
“I’m super happy with the result here in Winterberg, I love sliding here, it’s actually my first podium here since the 2022 Olympic season” said the 32-year-old from Queensland.
 
“Really happy with my drives today, the first corner is cut a little bit differently this year so it makes it tricky and slipped me up a little bit, but I can’t be happier, my pushing is coming along really nicely and my drives were solid, so all-in-all a good day.
 
“The track was in good condition, and it’s really cold here, so that is perfect conditions for track records to be broken. It makes for fun racing when you know the record is being broken again-and-again, you know you’re up for a fast run.
 
“I’m looking forward to my first World Cup two-woman event of the season tomorrow with Kiara Reddingius in our new sled.”
 
Also in action for Australia was Sarah Blizzard in 22nd place.
 
After three World Cup monobob events this season, Walker is ranked third on the standings on 584 points, trailing German duo Lisa Buckwitz in first on 660 and Laura Nolte second with 619.

2022 Olympians Bree Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius have raced in the two-woman bobsleigh event for the first time this northern winter, finishing with a gold and silver medal performance in the Europe Cup competition in Innsbruck, Austria.
 
Bobsleigh pilot Walker has been focused on the monobob World Cup events in the early season, allowing the pair to prepared for up for the upcoming two-woman World Cups in the best possible way on the Europe Cup circuit, taking a second-place finish on day one and the one place better claiming victory on day two..
 
On day one Walker and Rdddingius won the opening run, then the third fastest second run and finishing in a two-run time of 1:46.07, just 0.03 seconds behind event winners Charlotte Candrix and Lena Brunnhübner of Germany. Rounding out the podium in third was Maureen Zimmer and Lena Neunecker also German, 0.21 seconds behind first place.
 
In the second event, Walker and Rdddingius won both runs to take the gold medal in a two-run time of 1:46.79, 0.24 seconds ahead of Linda Weiszewski and Klaudia Adamek of Poland. Germany’s  Charlotte Candrix and Lena Brunnhübner were  third 0.25 seconds off first place.
 
Also competing in Innsbruck was Sarah Blizzard who finished 15th in the monobob, and teamed up with brakewoman Hayley Silvester in the two-woman event to finish 16th on day one.
 
The first World Cup event of 2025 is in Winterberg, Germany, on January 4-5.

At the IBSF monobob World Cup competition in Sigulda, Latvia, Bree Walker finished in third place, giving the 2022 Olympian her first podium of the season and eighth of her career.
 
The QAS athlete had a great first run with the second fastest time of the round in 53.32 seconds, just 0.1 seconds behind first place.
 
In the second and final run, Walker had the fourth fastest time in 53.83 seconds, and a two-run combined time of 1:47.15 putting her in third place, 0.26 seconds behind race winner Lisa Buckwitz of Germany, with Laura Nolte also of Germany second, 0.17 ahead of Walker.

The medal performance was Walker’s first on the Sigulda track and has her ranked third on the World Cup standings after two events.
 
“I was really happy with today, always a win when we are on the podium but especially here, as I really have a love hate relationship with this track, so it’s very satisfying and a nice way to end the first half of the World Cup season” said the 32-year-old from Queensland.
 
“I am so grateful for all the hard work my team has put in this week to help me win this medal. You really have to work hard to get it right at this place and everyone came together like a well-oiled machine. I am excited to take this momentum into the second half of the season.”
 
Sarah Blizzard finished in 17th place in her second monobob World Cup start .

The bobsleigh World Cup tour will resume in the new year in Winterberg, Germany, on January 4-5.

The IBSF World Cup season commenced over the weekend in Altenberg, Germany, with Bree Walker making a great start with a top-five finishing in the monobob.

The 2022 Olympian made a great start to the event on the difficult Altenberg track with the fastest time of all competitors in the first run in 59.47 seconds.

Making it even more impressive, was Walker had the tenth fastest start time, but then showed her impressive driving skills to work her way to the fastest time of the round.

In the second run, the third last competitor Elana Meyers Taylor of America had a fall which resulted in a delay which slowed the track down for the final two competitors and leaders from the first run, Debora Annen of Switzerland and finally Walker.

Walker finished her second run in a time of 1:01.13 seconds, which was the seventh fastest of the round, pushing her back to fifth place with a two run total of 2:00.60 seconds.

Taking the win 0.66 seconds ahead of Walker was Laura Nolte of Germany, with her teammate Lisa Buckwitz in second and Andreaa Grecu of Romania in third.

Walker reflected on her performance after the race.

“The fifth is a solid place to start the season. Unlucky to have a crash and a track hold in the snow before my second heat but I accept that can happen in bobsleigh sometimes.

“All in all I am m happy with my drives and how I performed, especially here in Altenberg, it sure has been a journey for me here. Ready to build on that this season.”

Sarah Blizzard made her World Cup monobob and two-woman World Cup driving debut, finishing in 21^st place in the monobob, and 17th in the two-woman with brakewoman Ashleigh Werner.

Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius elected to not compete in the first two-woman bobsleigh events of the season, but will commence their season together in the first event of the new year in Winterberg, Germany.

Next weekend the IBSF tour moves to Sigulda, Latvia, for the next round of World Cup competition.

Bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker has finished the monobob season in the best possible way, recording Australia’s first ever bobsleigh World Cup gold medal in Lake Placid, USA, giving Walker her fifth World Cup medal of the season and a career best end of season ranking.

Walker started with an incredible first run, setting a new track record for Lake Placid in 59.22 seconds, which was well over a second faster than the old record.

In the final run, Walker was the final competitor of the event as the leader from the first round, and performed superbly under pressure to again record the fastest time in 59.45 seconds, to secure her first ever World Cup victory with a two-run time of 1:58.67 seconds.

American Elana Meyers Taylor on her home track finished second 0.24 seconds behind Walker, with Cynthia Appiah of Canada 0.46 seconds back in third.

“It feels amazing, I came into this week knowing that I can be competitive and to come away with a win is the best possible way I could end the monobob season, I am so happy” said the 31-year-old Olympian from Queensland.

“Heading into the second run I knew I had to execute what I did in the first run. When I crossed the line I couldn’t even see the time or know where I had finished, but I knew it was a good run and I would be in the medals, but even better that it’s the win.”

The victory also saw Walker move into second place on the final World Cup monobob standings with 1549 points, her best end of season ranking.

First on the standings was 2024 World Champion Lisa Buckwitz of Germany on 1644 points with her teammate and 2022 Olympic gold medallist Laura Nolte in third on 1547.

The final World Cup event of the season takes place in Lake Placid tomorrow, where brakewoman Kiarra Reddingius will join Walker in the two-woman event.

Lake Placid will host the 2025 Bobsleigh World Championships next year ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, now less than two years away.

Bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius have achieved the best ever result for Australia in the two-woman or two-man event at an IBSF World Championships, with a remarkable fifth place finish in Winterberg, Germany.

The performance is the second top-5 for Walker at the World Championships, after the 31 year old finished in fourth place in the monobob last weekend. The result smashes her previous best 14th place finish, in her only other two-woman World Championship start in 2020.

Walker and Reddingius put down four competitive runs over two days of racing on the Winterberg track, to finish in a total time of 3:45.43 seconds, 1.44 seconds behind the eventual winner.

It was a German clean sweep of the podium on their home track, with Team Buckwitz winning gold, ahead of Team Nolte in silver and Team Kalicki with the bronze.

"The week was really good, training went well and we changed our sled setup and it just fit perfectly", said Walker.

"After the monobob I just had to reset and go again, and I could sense that Kiara was really excited for this week, and training was going well so we took that energy into the race and I am so happy with the result here. We were really consistent in our pushing at the start, and also in my driving, so I am over the moon."

"It was a whirlwind when we first started sliding together, and we jelled really quickly. From that point on we knew we could be a good team, it was just a matter of time doing more training and racing together."

I always knew I could be competitive in the two-woman as well as the monobob, I just needed to find my girl to help me do that, and I feel Kiarra is as competitive as I am, and it's so exciting to have a teammate who believes that we can be competitive with the best in the world."

Reddingius also commented after the race.

"I am really proud of us this season, our aim was consistency and we have nailed that at nearly every single race, especially here over four heats, it shows we can stay up there with the best in the world."

"This is our first season as a full team the whole time, so we will only go up from here."

Also competing for Australia was Sarah Blizzard and Desi Johnson who finished in 21st place, in their first two-woman World Championship race together.

The final round of World Cup competition will take place in Lake Placid, NY, USA on March 22-23. Walker is currently ranked fourth on the monobob standings, and could finish as high as second with a strong performance.

Bree Walker has come agonisingly close to a medal at the IBSF World Championships in Winterberg, Germany, missing the podium by just 0.07 seconds.

The fourth place result matches her previous best finish at a World Championships, where she had the same result last year in St Moritz, Switzerland, which is again the best ever result by an Australian bobsleigh athlete at a World Championships.

In the four run championship format, the QAS athlete performed well in her first three runs, highlighted by an exceptional third run where she had the second fastest run of the round.

Heading into the final run ranked second overall, Walker unfortunately had a mistake halfway down the run which made it difficult to recover enough speed to make the podium, and registered the seventh fastest time of the final run.
Walker finished with a four run combined time of 3:55.07 seconds, with the victory going to Laura Nolte of Germany in 3:54.77, Elana Meyers Taylor of the USA was second in 3:54.95 and German Lisa Buckwitz rounded out the podium in third with 3:55.00.

Also in action for Australia making her World Championship debut was Sarah Blizzard, who finished in 23rd place.

“It was a really tight race, and I knew it was going to be really tough and I was ready for that,” said the 31-year-old Olympian from Cairns.

“We did absolutely everything possible and left nothing to chance, I know how to execute a medal winning performance, so I just had to go out and do that, and unfortunately I just missed it, it hasn’t quite set in, but I am pretty heartbroken.”

“I made a mistake in that final run in a really important spot, and it cascaded down. You can’t make a mistake with these girls, everyone is driving so well and I ultimately paid the price and dropped to fourth.”

“My team is amazing, my coach goes above and beyond and I can’t thank Pierre (Lueders) enough for everything that he is teaching me, he is doing such a fantastic job coaching and running our team, it’s so professional.”

Next weekend sees the two-woman bobsleigh World Championship event take place at Winterberg on March 2-3, with Walker to be joined by brakewoman Kiara Reddingius. Sarah Blizzard will also be competing together with her brakewoman Desi Johnson.

“We have the two-woman coming up, and I am excited to get in and get going with that. The goal is to execute a really good race, the last time I competed in that event at the World Championships was in 2020 in Altenberg at my first World Championships, so I am excited to get in the sled and do that with Kiara next week.”

Competing in the last event before the 2024 IBSF World Championships, Bree Walker has finished in seventh place in the monobob on the difficult track in Altenberg, Germany, which saw many of her rivals crash.

In the first run Walker had mistakes, and finished in 1:01.43 seconds which was the ninth fastest time of the round.
In the second run, Walker dramatically improved to have the fastest time in the field of 16, finishing in an impressive time of 1:00.55 seconds.

Her two run combined time was 1:01.98, which put her 0.69 seconds behind event winner, 2022 Olympic two-woman bobsleigh champion Laura Nolte of Germany, with Elana Meyers-Taylor in second and another German, Lisa Buckwitz rounding out the podium in third place.

Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius elected not to compete in the two-woman, in order to prepare for the World Championships which commences next weekend in Winterberg, Germany, with monobob scheduled for February 24-25 and two-woman on March 1-2.

With one World Cup monobob event remaining in the season on March 22 in Lake Placid, USA, Walker is in fourth place on the World Cup rankings with 1324 points, trailing American Kaysha Love in third place on 1332. German sliders are ranked first and second, with Buckwitz leading on 1468 points and Nolte second with 1355 points.

“Altenberg can be a challenging place but I like a challenge so I went into last week ready for it,” said the 31-year-old Olympian from Queensland.

“I had a good feeling about the race but unfortunately in the first heat I made a mistake in the straight-a-way (again) which cost me so much speed. In the second heat I fixed it to lay down the fastest run of the heat.”

“Bittersweet as I know what my potential is in Altenberg but have to accept that is racing sometimes.”

“I walk away still feeling positive and proud of how much I have improved here over the last two seasons and we go onto the next one.”

Bree Walker pushing out of the start gate in Altenberg
IMAGE - Viesturs Lacis Rekords

Bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius have taken part in a triple World Cup event in Sigulda, Latvia, with the difficult track causing havoc for many of the teams and sleds from all countries.

First up was a two-woman race, with Walker and Reddingius achieving their best result of the weekend in fifth place, just 0.67 seconds behind the event winners Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig of Germany.

On day two Walker competed in the monobob, finishing in ninth, 1.15 second behind German pilot Lisa Buckwitz in first place.

The third and final day featured another two-woman World Cup, with Walker and Reddingius finishing the first run in seventh.

Unfortunately in the second run, the pair had a fall in the bottom section of the Sigulda track, causing the sled to slide across the line on its side, putting them in 13th place.

The next World Cup will take place in Altenberg, Germany, on February 17-18.

On day two in Lillehammer Bree Walker teamed up with brakewoman Kiara Reddingius in the two-woman event, with the pair finishing in fifth place, the third time they have finished in the top-5 this season.

In the first run the pair finished with the fifth fastest time in 51.99 seconds, and improved in run number two to be the fourth fastest sled down the track in 52.15.

Their two-run combined time was 1:44.14 seconds, finishing 0.52 behind event winner Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig of Germany.

After four events, the Aussie pair are currently ranked fifth on the IBSF World Cup standings in the two-woman.

Next weekend features a double World Cup event in the two-woman and single event in the monobob in Sigulda, Latvia.

Bobsleigh pilot Walker has returned in style to the Olympic track in Lillehammer, Norway, with a silver medal performance in the monobob, her first competition in Lillehammer since November 2019 when she was competing on the Europe Cup circuit.

The podium finish is the fourth straight medal for the QAS bobsleigh pilot, who has finished in the top-five in every World Cup event this season.

In the first run Walker was tied with Cynthia Appiah of Canada for the second fastest time of the round in 54.41 seconds, and in the second run had the third fastest time completing the run in 54.53 seconds.

Her two-run combined time of 1:48.94 was 0.42 seconds behind event winner Kaysha Love of the USA, with 2018 Olympic gold medallist Lisa Buckwitz of Germany .01 behind Walker in third.

After five World Cup events this season, Walker is ranked equal second on the standings on 1004 points along with Love, with Buckwitz leading the pair on 1043 points.

“It's been really fun here this week, I haven't slid here since 2019, and I actually couldn't remember the track last week when we came here for training ahead of the World Cup,” said the 31-year-old Olympian from Queensland.

“My coach Pierre Lueders and I both had to relearn it together as he hasn't slid here since 1998, so it was a fast learning curve for both of us.”

Walker was joined by brakewoman Kiara Reddingius for the two-woman bobsleigh event at St Moritz, with the pair making it back-to-back top-five World Cup finishes.

In the first run Walker and Reddingius had the sixth fastest time in 1:09.21 seconds, and went faster in the second run with a 1:08.51 seconds which the fifth fastest of the round, giving them a combined two-run time of 2:17.72 seconds and final ranking of fifth.

Finishing 1.13 seconds ahead of Walker and Reddingius in first place was the German team of Laura Nolte and Neele Schuten, with Lisa Buckwitz and Lauryn Siebert also of Germany in second, with Melanie Hasler and Mara Morell of Switzerland in third.

After the event Walker reflected on a successful weekend in St Moritz.

“I haven’t had much two-woman experience on this track in the past, so today I really didn’t have expectations on us. Honestly, I am really happy and think we can build on this result for years to come. It’s a really solid start with a lot more in the bank.”

“In two-woman this is our best result here, in the past we were just outside of the top-ten, so to jump all of those places and finish fifth is really satisfying, and especially when I still feel I have so much more to learn in the two-woman here, you can’t ask for much better than a fifth today.”

“The St Mortiz track has been very challenging for me in the past and it needs a special way to drive. I am slowly learning and liking this track more and more, so every time I come back I am enjoying myself here and taking in the surroundings. This is where bobsleigh was born so how could you not love this place.”

After three events, Walker and Reddingius are ranked fifth in the world, which is on track to be Australia’s best ever end of season ranking in the two-woman, two-man or four-man event.

The next World Cup events will take place in Lillehammer, Norway, on January 27-28.

Queensland Academy of Sport Bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker has continued her great form into the new year, with a bronze medal at the World Cup monobob event in St Moritz, Switzerland.

The podium performance is the third straight medal for Walker and sees her move into second place on the World Cup standings after four events.

Competing on the unique hand cut and historic ice track in St Moritz, Walker made a strong start recording the second fastest time in the opening run in 1:11.79 seconds. In the second and final run, Walker improved to finish with a time of 1:11.14 seconds which was again second fastest of the second round tying with Laura Nolte of Germany.

Her two-run combined time of 2:22.93 was just 0.15 seconds behind event winner Lisa Buckwitz of Germany, and another German Laura Nolte in second, just 0.02 seconds ahead of Walker in third.

“It’s so special, I’m really happy with my runs today and even happier that it resulted in a podium,” said the 31-year-old from Cairns.

“Each time I come here I learn more and more. I had to relearn the track with my new coach last year so coming back this year I didn’t have so much to learn, so I think that made all the difference.”

Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius then finished the weekend in the best possible way in the two-woman, claiming the best ever result for Australia in World Cup competition.

Walker and Reddingius started the event with the third fastest time in run one with a time of 52.90 seconds, and then in run two had the fourth fastest in 52.82 seconds. Their two run time of 1:45.72 seconds put them in fourth place, just 0.8 seconds off the podium.

Germany clean swept the event in the two-woman, with Lisa Buckwitz winning all three events in Innsbruck.

“I was pretty confident that we could produce a great result in the two-woman off the back of the two monobob podiums. The vibe was high so we took that into the race and produced a great performance,” said Walker.

“Those two runs were probably the best I have ever had in a race on this track so very happy to finish on that note.”

“I didn’t do much two-woman last season, so getting back into racing in the two events has been a juggling act, but we have a great team around us that helps manage it extremely well.”

“I am very grateful for the team we have on board this season. We are really starting to build the right people around us to produce the results we know we are capable of!”

Bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker has continued her success on the Igls track in Innsbruck, Austria, taking her first monobob World Cup medal of the season with a silver medal performance.

The 2022 Olympian has podiumed on the Igls track every season since 2019, while competing across various levels of the sport.

Walker made a strong start recording the third fastest time in the opening run in 55.99 seconds. In the second and final run, Walker improved to finish with a time of 55.43 seconds which was the second fastest of the round.

Her two-run combined time of 1:51.42 was just 0.25 seconds behind event winner Lisa Buckwitz of Germany, with her teammate Laura Nolte rounding out the podium in third, 0.05 seconds behind Walker in third.

“Really happy with today’s race. It often takes me a race or two to get the ball rolling, so proud to stand on the podium for Australia today,” said the 31-year-old from Queensland.

“We have two more races this weekend so the job is not finished yet. We practically have a new team this year and everyone is doing such a great job, I am really excited by who I have on board, makes days like today all the more special.”

“I don’t really know what it is about this place but I just understand the track well, I have a good start which matters on this track and I just enjoy racing here. We are still waiting to hear if this is the venue for the 2026 Olympics so only time will tell.”

QAS bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker has opened her season with equal fifth place finish at the IBSF World Cup monobob event in La Plagne, France.

Competing at the French Alps track, Walker also backed up the following day in the two-woman Bobsleigh event alongside brakewoman Kiara Reddingius, finishing in seventh place in their first event back together since the 2022 Olympic Winter Games and equalling their personal best result in IBSF World Cup.

In the monobob, Walker had an impressive first run, with the equal second fastest time on the La Plagne track along with German Laura Nolte in a time of 1:04.05 seconds,

In the second run, where the top competitors go in reverse start order, conditions unexpectedly got slower as the event progressed disadvantaging the fastest sliders from the first run. Walker finished with the equal sixth fastest run, again with Nolte again recording the same time in 1:04.27 seconds, giving them both a two-run time of 2:08.32.

Taking the win was American Kaysha Love in an incredible World Cup debut with a two run time of 2:07.92, with Swiss driver Melanie Hasler in second and Andreea Grecu of Romania in third.

Next up was the two-woman, with Walker and Reddingius finishing the first run in eighth place in a time of 1:01.84 seconds.

The pair went faster in run two, with the sixth fastest time of the round in 1:01.38, giving them a two run time of 2:02.22, 0.98 seconds behind event winner Nolte and Schuten of Germany.

"It's one of the most beautiful places on the tour, so we have thoroughly enjoyed being here," said Walker.

"The track was a little bit bumpy, but we made it work, and ultimately walking away with a solid result and we just build from here."

"I have a brand new team in terms of new coaches and then also Kiara is back, so we just need to get back in the groove of things, but to walk away with a fifth in the monobob, and seventh in the two-woman with Kiara which equals our best ever result so far, so really happy with that.

"The altitude is pretty rough up here, I am pretty excited to get back to lower altitude, but you have to make it work, everyone is dealing with the same conditions, so we just made the best of what we could this weekend."

Walker will be aiming for the podium at the World Cup next weekend in Innsbruck, Austria, a location she has had great success previously.

Winter Olympian and AIS Share a Yarn ambassador Bree Walker has added some special apparel to her winter kit as she continues to compete in monobob and bobsleigh across the globe.

Walker now dons First Nations inspired gloves which were designed by Share a Yarn mentor and Olympic boxer Brad Hore.

Walker said she was eager to wear something that represented all Australians around the world who were pursuing their sporting passion.

"As part of the AIS Share a Yarn program I have learnt so much about Indigenous culture, how important inclusion is in sport and heard from many Indigenous athletes about their journeys.

"I loved hearing from Brad Hore and how as a boxer he sacrificed a lot to live away from home for his Olympic dream.

"I could really relate to that and asked Brad and the legends at XTM Performance if we could create gloves that connects all traveling Australians to our home no matter where we are in the world," Walker said.

Hore discovered his love for art during the pandemic and to date has designed and created countless pieces.

"The story on the gloves represents the coming and going, the spirit and connection to home and country," he said.

"The kangaroo footprints lead us home, the icon of Australia, it’s our countries strength and resilience when we work in a mob.

"Each meeting space is one on country and one shared with another country, but it is the representation of a home away from home, surrounded by our connection to those we call 'Aussies'.

"The lines show no matter where we are in the world, a tie connects us to where we have been and where we are going, it’s the dream and the journey that connects us all."

Walker is one of 10 athlete ambassadors undertaking the AIS Share a Yarn program which connects athletes with First Nations communities and teaches them about differing cultures, lands, histories and people within them.

QAS bobsleigh athlete Bree Walker has headed to North America for the first time in years, heading to the Lake Placid in America for a training camp on the former Olympic track, and also to compete in two North American Cup monobob events.

On the first day of competition, Walker took home the gold medal, finishing ahead of 2023 World Champion Laura Nolte of Germany, with her teammate and 2018 Olympic gold medallist Lisa Buckwitz in third.

On day two, the top-two places on the podium were reversed, with Nolte taking the win ahead of Walker, and Buckwitz again in third.

With Walker likely to be back competing in the North American World Cup events next season, and Lake Placid hosting the 2025 World Championships, the podium results will give her great confidence for the future.

2022 Olympian Bree Walker has completed her 2022-2023 international competition season in style, with podium performances in the Europe Cup two-woman events with brakewoman Sarah Blizzard in Winterberg, Germany.

In the first event, Walker and Blizzard finished in a time of 58.87, putting them in second place, just 0.1 seconds behind event winners Margot Boch and Carla Senechal of France.

Later that day the QAS slider and Blizzard competed in the second race on the Winterberg track, this time finishing with a time of 58.51 seconds, 0.32 seconds behind Boch who won both events.

Blizzard also competed in the monobob, piloting herself to a seventh place finish.

It was another successful season for Walker, highlighted by:

Monobob

• Two World Cup podium's (Silver and Bronze)
• Fourth place at the World Championships
• Three Europe Cup gold medals

Two-Woman - Bree Walker & Sarah Blizzard

• Personal best fifth place World Cup finish
  
• Two Europe Cup podiums in Winterberg
  

Bree Walker has continued her success on the Igls track in Innsbruck, Austria, with a silver medal performance at her final  IBSF World Cup monobob event of the season.

The podium performance is the QAS athlete's second for the season at the World Cup level, following her bronze medal last month in Altenberg, Germany, and the fifth time Walker has medalled on the Igls track.

Walker made a strong start recording the third fastest time in the opening run in 54.71 seconds. In the second and final run, the 2022 Olympian improved to finish with a time of 54.68 seconds which was the second fastest of the round.

Her two-run combined time of 1:49.38 was just 0.18 seconds behind event winner Lisa Buckwitz of Germany, with Canadian Cynthia Appiah rounding out the podium 0.04 seconds behind Walker in third.

“I couldn’t have asked for a better way to round out my World Cup season with the second place here in Igls,” said the 30-year-old from Queensland.

“I really enjoy sliding here, It’s easy to make it down this track, but sometimes hard to make it down fast because the slightest mistake can cost you so much time, so that provides a great challenge.”

“I’m also very happy to be improving on my results from race to race. The competition in monobob this year has really levelled up which makes for fierce racing, which is always fun.”

“It’s been a big transition season for me. My new coach Pierre Lueders has helped me take my driving to a whole new level, which has been such an exciting process.”

Walker will now join up with Sarah Blizzard to compete in the two-woman Europe Cup race in Winterberg, Germany, on February 18.

Bree Walker has created history recording Australia's best ever sliding sports performance at an IBSF World Championships, narrowly missing the podium in fourth place in the monobob event in St Moritz, Switzerland.

Competing on the spectacular hand cut ice on the natural St Moritz track, the QAS athlete put down four great runs to finish just two tenths of a second shy of the podium.

The combined total time for Walker's four runs was 4:45.77, which had her finish 0.92 seconds behind event winner Laura Nolte of Germany, with American Kaillie Humphries in second and Lisa Buckwitz of Germany in third.

"The week was really great, we had really good training figuring out the track because it changes a little bit each year," said the 2022 Olympian.

"We had a really good plan with lot's of help from the OWIA and my team, which all came together quite well so I felt very prepared for the race on the weekend."

"With the longer four run format, you have to just take it run by run, I was happy with how I executed each run.

"I had a plan with my coach and my team, and we really stuck to that plan and I am happy with how it ended up and the results at the end of the day."

Bree Walker will head into next weekends World Championships with confidence, after taking home her first monobob World Cup podium of the season in Altenberg, Germany.The QAS athlete had two consistent runs, finishing the first run in third place with a time of 1:00.92 seconds.

On run number two, Walker had a time of 1:00.97, the fourth fastest run of the round, which gave her a two-run time of 2:01.89 in third overall, 1.28 seconds behind event winner Kaillie Humphries of the USA, with German Laura Nolte in second.
Walker was delighted with the medal performance after her second run, and her best ever result on the Altenberg track, which had caused her trouble in previous years.

"This one is special", said the 2022 Olympian.

"It’s been one hell of a journey to get to a podium at an Altenberg World Cup and I’m grateful for it."

Walker will compete in St Moritz, Switzerland, in the World Championship monobob event on January 28-29, and will join brakewoman Sarah Blizzard in the two-woman the following week on February 3-4.