Jacqueline Loelling of Germany launches her sled as she heads down the half-pipe course in the women’s skeleton race in the BMW IBSF World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17.
One hundredth of a second is all that’s needed to determine the color of the medal when it comes to skeleton, one of the official sledding events at the Olympic Winter Games.
In the recent competition held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, one of the host cities for next year’s PyeongChang 2018 Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games, Germany, a skeleton powerhouse, took home another gold-colored medal.
At the BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup on March 17, Jacqueline Loelling of Germany, currently the champion in the 2016-2017 season for the World Cup, clinched a gold medal in the women’s skeleton, edging out Elena Nikitina of Russia by merely 0.3 seconds, and Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands by 0.35 seconds. The German champion clocked in at 1:45.68, logging 52.93 seconds in the first run and 52.75 seconds in her second run.
Jacqueline Loelling of Germany clinches her fist as she crosses the finish line in the women’s skeleton race in the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17. The German racer came in first place.
“I’m so happy and can’t believe that I won,” said Loelling. “The track was good and the ice was in such good condition. As I expected, curves No. 9 and 12 were the most challenging. I have to work on those curves for next year’s PyeongChang Games.”
“Winning the Winter Games is my big goal and I’ll come back to put up a better fight,” she said with a smile.
Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands launches her sled as she starts in the women’s skeleton race in the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17. She finished in third place.
Mun Rayoung of Korea recorded 54.35 seconds in the first run, putting herself in the 22nd place, in a tie with Nozomi Komuro of Japan. She failed to make it to the second run, as only those ranked in the top 20 in the first race are qualified to compete in the second run.
“Curve No. 9 was definitely the most difficult,” said the Korean racer. “I kept hitting the wall on curve No. 9 and began to lose momentum. I’ll try to practice more so as not to be so nervous in the next big sporting event. My goal is to finish in the top 3 at the PyeongChang Olympic Games next year.”
By Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Photographer
jiae5853@korea.kr
Jacqueline Loelling of Germany (center), Elena Nikitina of Russia (left) and Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands, finishing in first, second and third place, respectively, in the women’s skeleton race in the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup, pose for a group photo during a flower ceremony on March 17 at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province.
Mun Rayoung of Korea races down the track in the women’s skeleton race in the BMW IBSF World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 17.
