Australia's ever consistent World Cup sledder Bree Walker has begun her 2025 campaign in fine style, sliding to another monobob World Cup bronze medal in Germany.
The 32-year-old, who finished runner-up in last year's World Cup, consolidated her third place in the 2024-25 global competition by finishing behind home pilot Lisa Buckwitz, who set a new track record time of 58.25 seconds on the Winterberg track, and Switzerland's silver medallist Melanie Hasler.
It was the former hurdler's second-straight World Cup bronze after also medalling in Latvia before Christmas, and after three of eight races this season, Walker is on 584 points in the rankings behind leader and defending champ Buckwitz (660) and her German compatriot, world champion Laura Nolte (619).
It was also Walker's ninth medal overall in World Cup races as she tries to repeat her sole success in Lake Placid in March, the historic first triumph ever by an Australian bobsleigh pilot.
Walker (58.67sec) had been just 0.09sec down on Buckwitz and 0.03 behind Hasler on the first run, but though she improved to 58.44 on the second run, she couldn't live with the German's record-breaking effort as she ended up 0.28 adrift with a combined time of 1:57.11.
Buckwitz clocked 1:56.83 for her two runs, with Hasler's second run of 58.31 leaving her 0.19sec ahead of the Aussie.
Lisa Buckwitz continues her winning streak into 2025 by taking IBSF World Cup win in Women's Monobob race! 🥇✨🇩🇪#IBSF #WorldCup #winner pic.twitter.com/FogTTvUvA8
— IBSF (@IBSFsliding) January 4, 2025
"I'm really happy with both heats, except for corner zero that messed me up so bad during the week," said Walker.
"My sled is also running really well. I can't wipe the smile off my face and I'm excited to take this energy to the next races."
Buckwitz described her winning performance as "solid" while admitting: "I'm actually not completely satisfied with my runs, but it's something to build on, a good start to the new year."
Walker's next monobob race will be in St Moritz, Switzerland, next Saturday as the circuit moves to Switzerland.
