Martins Dukurs of Latvia (left) rejoices with his coach after coming in first in the men’s skeleton race at the 2016-2017 BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup, held at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17.
The world rankings for the 2016-2017 season of the BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup have leveled off in Pyeongchang.
Martins Dukurs of Latvia, currently the world champion in the men’s skeleton, showed his formidable prowess and put another gold into his medal basket in a race held at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17.
It was the final race in men’s skeleton for the 2016-2017 IBSF World Cup. The competition was also held to test the ice track at the center, a venue for the sledding events at next year’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, less than one year away.
In his first run, the Latvian racer had to move down to second place with a time of 50.87 seconds behind Yun Sung-bin of Korea, currently ranked second in the world. In the second run, he demonstrated his deciding skill, logging 50.64 seconds. His total was 1:41.51, edging out the Korean by one hundredth of a second.
Martins Dukurs of Latvia finishes in first place in the men’s skeleton race in the 2016-2017 BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup, held at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17.
“The track here in Pyeongchang is really interesting,” said the gold medalist. “It’s not that difficult or dangerous. I’d say that everything is up to curve No. 9,” he said. “If you go into the curve with excellence, you don’t lose any time and can gain a lot.”
Asked about how he will prepare for next year’s PyeongChang Olympic Games, he said, “I’ve written down pretty precisely all the training that I did, and I’ve done so many races over the past decades. I think I’ve already prepared for the Olympic Games next year.”
Yun Sung-bin of Korea launches his sled in the men’s skeleton race in the 2016-2017 BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup, held at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17. He was defeated by the world No. 1 Martins Dukurs of Latvia by 0.01 seconds.
The Korean runner-up who missed a gold medal that was almost, but not quite, in his grasp, said, “I expected that this race would be quite challenging and I ended up being in second place, for which I’m very sorry. I’ll have some breaks and continue to train for next year’s big Olympic Games. I’ll spare no effort to put up a good fight without any blunder next year, here in Pyeongchang.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Photographer
Jiae5853@korea.kr
Martins Dukurs of Latvia (center), Yun Sung-bin of Korea (left) and Tomass Dukurs of Latvia, finishing in first, second and third, respectively, in the men’s skeleton race in the 2016-2017 BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup, pose for a commemorative photo as they hold up their trophies on March 17.
