Australian bobsleigh star Bree Walker has completed a ten-day training block on the newly rebuilt Eugenio Monti Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, the venue for the 2026 Winter Olympic Games sliding events.
The historic Cortina track, which staged the 1956 Olympics, last welcomed a World Cup in 2008. For years, uncertainty surrounded its future, but a rapid redevelopment, finished in just 300 days, has brought the venue back to life. Recently homologated by the IBSF and FIL, the track opened for the first time for official Bobsleigh and Skeleton sliding during the International Training Period (ITP) from 7–16 November.
Athletes had their first runs on the 1,730-metre course, featuring 16 curves and speeds exceeding 140 km/h. Its technical upper section, flowing rhythm have already drawn praise from competitors.
“It’s been super special,” Walker said. “We originally thought that we weren’t going to have a track here in Cortina, so being here these past two weeks has been really exciting for many reasons.”
“I love learning new tracks from scratch. It’s such a challenge in the beginning, but when you start to get it, it’s really rewarding.”
“The track is really fun! It has a great flow to it. It’s not tricky to get down, but it’s still going to be good fun racing.”
“Our preparation is going well. We have worked really hard to learn the track as best as we can for now and I think we have done a great job considering it’s just my coach Pierre and I. So we go into this World Cup week feeling good and ready.”
The IBSF World Cup opener returns to Cortina this weekend for the first time in 17 years. Walker will line up in:
Sarah Blizzard also took part in the ITP, and will compete in both World Cup events in Cortina, teaming up with either Desi Johnson or Ashleigh Werner as her brakewoman for the two-woman.
This event marks the start of the final two months of Olympic qualification, which concludes on January 18, 2026.
The historic Cortina track, which staged the 1956 Olympics, last welcomed a World Cup in 2008. For years, uncertainty surrounded its future, but a rapid redevelopment, finished in just 300 days, has brought the venue back to life. Recently homologated by the IBSF and FIL, the track opened for the first time for official Bobsleigh and Skeleton sliding during the International Training Period (ITP) from 7–16 November.
Athletes had their first runs on the 1,730-metre course, featuring 16 curves and speeds exceeding 140 km/h. Its technical upper section, flowing rhythm have already drawn praise from competitors.
“It’s been super special,” Walker said. “We originally thought that we weren’t going to have a track here in Cortina, so being here these past two weeks has been really exciting for many reasons.”
“I love learning new tracks from scratch. It’s such a challenge in the beginning, but when you start to get it, it’s really rewarding.”
“The track is really fun! It has a great flow to it. It’s not tricky to get down, but it’s still going to be good fun racing.”
“Our preparation is going well. We have worked really hard to learn the track as best as we can for now and I think we have done a great job considering it’s just my coach Pierre and I. So we go into this World Cup week feeling good and ready.”
The IBSF World Cup opener returns to Cortina this weekend for the first time in 17 years. Walker will line up in:
- Women’s Monobob on 22 November.
- Two-Woman Bobsleigh with brakewoman Kiara Reddingius on 23 November.
Sarah Blizzard also took part in the ITP, and will compete in both World Cup events in Cortina, teaming up with either Desi Johnson or Ashleigh Werner as her brakewoman for the two-woman.
This event marks the start of the final two months of Olympic qualification, which concludes on January 18, 2026.
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