Winterberg (RWH) Gold for Elana Meyers Taylor: the Olympic silver medallist took the USA’s first world title in the women’s bobsleigh at the BMW FIBT Bob & Skeleton World Championships in Winterberg (GER).
Meyers Taylor and brakewoman Cherrelle Garrett set a new track record in three of their four runs on the Winterberg Hochsauerland bobsleigh track, ending up with a 0.43-second advantage over European Champion Anja Schneiderheinze and brakewoman Annika Drazek (GER), who set the new track record (56.54 seconds) in the fourth run. This was Schneiderheinze’s first World Championship medal as a pilot, having previously won silver as brakewoman to Sandra Kiriasis (née Prokoff) in 2004. In the final race of her career, Cathleen Martini (GER) and her brakewoman Stephanie Schneider took bronze, finishing 1.06 seconds behind the victorious US pairing. Martini, who was World Champion in 2011, finishes her World Championship career on the ice track exactly as it began. Back in 2003, she and brakewoman Yvonne Cernota claimed bronze in the two-woman bobsleigh at the World Championships in Winterberg. At the team World Championships in Winterberg Cathleen Martini will have another chance to medal as part of the German team.
Olympic Champion and defending World Champion Kaillie Humphries of Canada finished eighth at the BMW FIBT World Championships 2015 alongside brakewoman Melissa Lotholz. Romanian duo Maria Adela Constantin and Andreea Grecu finished one place further back in ninth place, and celebrated as if they had won the race. ©RWH 2015
Quotes
Elana Meyers Taylor (USA, Olympic silver medallist in 2014, World Championship runner-up in 2013, overall World Cup winner 2014/2015)
“Everything came together here. The whole team, the coaches, the support staff, have all worked so hard for this gold medal. I’m very happy.”
Anja Schneiderheinze (GER, European Champion 2015, fifth in the 2013 World Championships)
“Silver is a dream result. It’s just perfect.”
Cathleen Martini (GER, World Champion 2011, European Champion 2004, 2005, 2010, 2012, overall World Cup winner 2012)
“When it was clear we had won the medal, lots of images from the last few years flashed through my mind. Especially from this last year, when I started at the very bottom and eventually made it onto the podium at the World Championships. I’m completely thrilled.”
Official Result BMW FIBT World Championships Winterberg, Women's Bob
