CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Italy), Feb 15 (Bernama-dpa) -- Austrian Janine Flock finally claimed Olympic gold in the women’s skeleton on Saturday at age 36, eight years after missing out on victory and four years after a difficult performance, reported German Press Agency (dpa).
Rivals may have doubted her, but Flock dominated the Cortina ice track from the very first of her four runs, setting a new track record.
She clinched victory by 0.30 seconds over Germany’s Susanne Kreher, having held a 0.21-second lead going into the final run.
Another German, Jacqueline Pfeifer, took bronze, finishing ahead of 2022 champion and compatriot Hannah Neise.
Flock led after three runs in 2018 but was overtaken in the final run by Britain’s Lizzy Yarnold, leaving her in fourth place.
At Beijing 2022, the four-time European champion finished just 10th, but four years later she has claimed Olympic gold – despite never winning a world championship title in her long career.
Dutch slider Kimberley Bos, the world champion and Beijing bronze medallist, could only finish 13th.
In Friday's men's skeleton, Matt Weston secured Britain’s first medal at the 2026 Games as he scooped gold.
Skeleton is similar to luge, but athletes lie face down, racing headfirst. The mixed team event on Sunday will conclude the Olympic programme.
--BERNAMA-dpa
BERNAMA provides up-to-date authentic and comprehensive news and information which are disseminated via BERNAMA Wires; www.bernama.com; BERNAMA TV on Astro 502, unifi TV 631 and MYTV 121 channels and BERNAMA Radio on FM93.9 (Klang Valley), FM107.5 (Johor Bahru), FM107.9 (Kota Kinabalu) and FM100.9 (Kuching) frequencies.
Follow us on social media :
Facebook : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatv, @bernamaradio
Twitter : @bernama.com, @BernamaTV, @bernamaradio
Instagram : @bernamaofficial, @bernamatvofficial, @bernamaradioofficial
TikTok : @bernamaofficial
