QAS bobsleigh pilot Bree Walker has secured her first World Cup victory of the season and second of her career, with an impressive win in Lillehammer, Norway, sharing the gold medal with American Kaysha Love in a dead heat, the first tie in monobob World Cup history.
Walker opened with a time of 54.56 seconds in the first heat, recording the second fastest time of the round, trailing 2022 Olympic champion Laura Nolte of Germany by only 0.01 seconds.
In the final run, Walker again posted the second fastest time in 54.58 seconds, giving her a combined time of 1:49.14, to equal American Kaysha Love. Nolte, the last competitor down the 1994 Olympic track, was unable to surpass Walker and Love, slipping 0.07 seconds behind in third place.
The 2022 Olympian now has 11 career monobob World Cup podiums.
“Really happy to be able to secure my first win of the season after being so close a few times” said the 32-year-old from Queensland.
“I really love sliding here, I was feeling really good coming into this race, but I knew it would be a very competitive race as always, so I just went out there and focused on pushing really fast and driving well and was able to come away with the win so very happy with that.”
“Lillehammer is a special place for me, I came away with my first career bobsleigh medals in European Cup races in the 2018-2019 season, and to also secure my second World Cup medal on this track after a silver last season, I really love the track and I enjoy sliding here.
“We are going into tomorrow’s two-woman race with the same expectations I had today, to push hard and put down two consistent drives, and see what the results are on the other side.”
Fellow QAS pilot Sarah Blizzard finished in 22nd place.
The win sees Walker move back into second place on the monobob World Cup standings on 1371 points, trailing Lisa Buckwitz of Germany on 1437 points, with Nolte third on 1371.
Crash for Walker & Reddingius in two-woman
In the two-woman event, unfortunately 2022 Olympians Bree Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius suffer a bad crash near the end of the track, sliding the last section to the finish line on their side.
The Australia number one sled was fifth fastest off the start and was placed top 10 by the intermediate times just before crashing on the lower track.
The fall resulted in the pair finishing in 21st place and missing the top-20 cut for the second run.
Sarah Blizzard and Ashley Werner were also in action for Australia finishing in 20th.
The final monobob and two-woman World Cup race of the season is scheduled on the same track in Norway next weekend on February 15-16.
Walker opened with a time of 54.56 seconds in the first heat, recording the second fastest time of the round, trailing 2022 Olympic champion Laura Nolte of Germany by only 0.01 seconds.
In the final run, Walker again posted the second fastest time in 54.58 seconds, giving her a combined time of 1:49.14, to equal American Kaysha Love. Nolte, the last competitor down the 1994 Olympic track, was unable to surpass Walker and Love, slipping 0.07 seconds behind in third place.
The 2022 Olympian now has 11 career monobob World Cup podiums.
“Really happy to be able to secure my first win of the season after being so close a few times” said the 32-year-old from Queensland.
“I really love sliding here, I was feeling really good coming into this race, but I knew it would be a very competitive race as always, so I just went out there and focused on pushing really fast and driving well and was able to come away with the win so very happy with that.”
“Lillehammer is a special place for me, I came away with my first career bobsleigh medals in European Cup races in the 2018-2019 season, and to also secure my second World Cup medal on this track after a silver last season, I really love the track and I enjoy sliding here.
“We are going into tomorrow’s two-woman race with the same expectations I had today, to push hard and put down two consistent drives, and see what the results are on the other side.”
Fellow QAS pilot Sarah Blizzard finished in 22nd place.
The win sees Walker move back into second place on the monobob World Cup standings on 1371 points, trailing Lisa Buckwitz of Germany on 1437 points, with Nolte third on 1371.
Crash for Walker & Reddingius in two-woman
In the two-woman event, unfortunately 2022 Olympians Bree Walker and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius suffer a bad crash near the end of the track, sliding the last section to the finish line on their side.
The Australia number one sled was fifth fastest off the start and was placed top 10 by the intermediate times just before crashing on the lower track.
The fall resulted in the pair finishing in 21st place and missing the top-20 cut for the second run.
Sarah Blizzard and Ashley Werner were also in action for Australia finishing in 20th.
The final monobob and two-woman World Cup race of the season is scheduled on the same track in Norway next weekend on February 15-16.
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