A Stellar Performance in Bobsled
At the final World Cup event of the season on Sunday, Canada’s dynamic duo of Melissa Lotholz and Skylar Sieben secured a bronze medal in the two-woman bobsled race. Their achievement marks a significant milestone in Lotholz’s career as a pilot, having previously excelled as a brakewoman.
This podium finish comes after a swift decision to replace Leah Walkeden with Sieben in Lotholz’s sled. Walkeden had to withdraw from the race after battling illness throughout the week, allowing Sieben to step in and rise to the occasion.
Melissa Lotholz, a two-time Olympian hailing from Barrhead, Alberta, earned her first podium finish in 20 World Cup starts as a pilot. Notably, she boasts an impressive collection of 19 medals from World Cup competitions and world championships while competing as a brakewoman.
Lotholz and Sieben, who trains out of Cochrane, Alberta, finished with a time that placed them just 0.96 seconds behind the gold medalists Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi from Germany, who previously took the top spot at the 2022 Olympics. The German team has made a remarkable comeback, demonstrating their skill and competitiveness.
In a close race, fellow Germans Lisa Buckwitz and Neele Schuten finished only 0.20 seconds behind the gold medallists, showcasing the thrilling intensity of the event.
With her latest victory, Nolte has claimed the title of overall World Cup winner in the two-woman bobsled category for the third consecutive season, solidifying her status in the sport.
