Australia's Bree Walker claims World Cup monobob gold medal in Norway

Australian athlete Bree Walker excelled on her favorite Norwegian ice track, winning her second World Cup monobob gold medal, marking one of the most glorious moments in her career. She demonstrated remarkable strength in the Lillehammer competition, laying a solid foundation for her campaign this season.

However, Walker shared the top spot with American Kaillie Humphries on Saturday, jointly claiming the honor. This marked the first-ever tie for first place in a World Cup monobob race, but it did not diminish the brilliance of 32-year-old Walker's first victory of the season. Both athletes showcased top-notch competitive levels, offering the audience a thrilling competition.

Walker stated, "I’m really happy to secure my first win of the season after coming so close a few times." She further added, "Lillehammer is a special place for me. I won my first ever bobsleigh medal here in a Europa Cup race in the 2018/2019 season. After a silver last season, to get my second World Cup gold on this track, I really love this track, I love sliding here." Walker's joy was palpable, and her fondness for the Lillehammer track was evident.

In the first run, Walker clocked in at 54.56 seconds, placing second, only 0.01 seconds behind Germany's 2022 Olympic champion Laura Nolte. In the subsequent run, she once again secured second place with a time of 54.58 seconds, ultimately discovering that her total time was exactly the same as Humphries', both at 1:49.14. Consistent performance across both runs ultimately led to this historic shared victory.

Walker's 11th World Cup monobob podium finish has propelled her back into second place in the overall standings this season, trailing only German athlete Lisa Buckwitz, who leads with 1437 points. Australian athlete Walker currently has 1371 points, but Buckwitz holds the initiative in the championship race, needing only an eighth-place finish or better at the final World Cup event next weekend to successfully defend her title. The championship's outcome will be revealed in the final race, where the competition is exceptionally fierce.