Bree Walker, one of Australia’s top medal contenders, finished eighth in the monobob event at the Winter Olympics in Cortina d’Ampezzo. Ranked second in the world prior to the Games, Walker faced stiff competition from elite athletes but fell short of her goal, unable to keep pace with the frontrunners.
Walker entered the competition with high expectations after a successful season, including three victories in the last five World Cup events. Despite her confidence, she struggled to adapt to the unique conditions of the Olympic track. “I’m obviously disappointed with the result, especially after the season that I have had,” Walker stated, reflecting on her performance. “It’s a lot different to what it was in November when we had the World Cup, and I just struggled to adapt to it, unfortunately.”
The gold medal was secured by American Elana Meyers Taylor, who claimed her first Olympic gold at the age of 41. Laura Nolte of Germany, who led the competition through the first three heats, finished just behind her in second place, while Kaillie Armbruster Humphries, the defending champion, took third. The podium finishers established a clear lead, with a margin of 0.77 seconds separating them from Walker and the rest of the field.
Walker entered the final day of competition in seventh place but was unable to gain significant ground in her times. Her runs clocked in at 59.60 seconds and 59.69 seconds, showing improvement but not enough to catch those ahead of her. “I must say if I’m being honest, I’ve struggled here all week,” Walker admitted. “But I just wanted to go in the race and see if I could continue to work and continue to improve.”
The Australian athlete highlighted the challenges faced by her smaller team compared to larger bobsleigh nations like the United States and Germany. “It’s been really hard here,” Walker explained. “We’re a small team, and I’ve got one driving coach compared to these bigger nations. They’ve been able to adapt to the changes.”
Her performance is particularly disappointing given her fifth place finish at the previous Winter Olympics in Beijing in 2022. Walker had anticipated success at Cortina, believing the track suited her abilities. However, her results indicated a stark contrast to her pre-Olympic confidence. “It is unfortunate what the result is,” she remarked.
Looking forward, Walker is shifting her focus to the upcoming two-person bobsleigh event scheduled later in the Games. “I’ve just got to reset for two-man, that’s all I’ve got to do,” she said. Her experience as a former 400m hurdles track runner, having transitioned to bobsleigh later in her athletic career, may provide her with the resilience needed for the next competition.
The Winter Olympic Games are being broadcast on the 9Network, 9Now, and Stan Sport, with updates and expert analysis available for fans following the event.
