Canada inched two steps closer to topping the overall medal standings tonight with a one-two win for Canada in the womens’ bobsleigh at the Whistler Sliding Centre.

Canada had never won a medal in this sport – now they have two. It had been a game of cat and mouse over the past two nights as Canada, the USA and Germany vied for gold. The average of four runs is calculated to give the overall winning time, with the two Canadian teams ultimately scoring the highest average.

Going into this evening’s competition, Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse from Canada 1 lead USA 2, Erin Pac and Elana Meyers by .0.13 and Germany 2, Cathleen Martini and Romy Logsch by 0.40.

The defending world cup champion Sandra Kiriasis of Germany was sitting in fifth, after faltering on both starts and being slowed by contact with the track during the run.

Canada 1 was focusing on their own form rather than the German upset going into the final night. “I’m just focusing on making each run faster, better, stronger, said Humphries. “As mean as it sounds, I really don’t care. As long as I’m one of them, bring them all on”.

The Australian women’s bobsleigh crew of Astrid Loch-Wilkinson and Cecilia McIntosh completed the first day of competition in 19th place. However, after the first run of the second night, they qualified 21st, delimiting them from the fourth run of competition. Only the top 20 proceed.

Humphries recorded the fastest time in the first three runs and was second best in the final run this evening. The fastest run in the finale belonged to Canada 2, Helen Upperton and Shelley-Ann Brown, who jumped from third to first after the first run after hitting 146.7 km/h.

But the lead was short-lived as Humphries regained top spot on the podium with the final run of the night, not that they knew immediately they were once again the forerunners. “I saw the number one that the coach was holding up and everyone was cheering. That’s when I knew, but it didn’t sink in”, said Moyse.

For the duo, the win has made years of hard work well worth the effort. “The goal I set as a little kid, to have done it is amazing”, Humphries said.

Flip Byrnes
AOC-Vancouver