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Laura Nolte in the monobob
Photo: Christopher Neundorf / EPA
Laura Nolte successfully defended the monobob world championship title on her home track in Winterberg.
Starting the second day of competition in fourth place, the 25-year-old outclassed her teammate Lisa Buckwitz (Oberhof) in the final two runs on Sunday and won the second World Championship gold of her career.
European champion Buckwitz missed out on her first World Cup title despite leading at halftime; she won the bronze medal, 0.23 seconds behind.
In a close race, silver went to the experienced American Elana Meyers Taylor (+0.18).
The day before, Nolte had only managed fourth place due to adductor problems, but on Sunday she clearly improved physically and mentally.
“I’m just overjoyed,” said Nolte on ARD: “Last night there was a conversation about whether I wouldn’t start at all.
But the physios did their best.” Buckwitz struggled with the conditions in the third run when she had to be first onto the snowy track.
»Unfortunately that's how sport is, sometimes unfair.
It's a shame chocolate, but life goes on," said Buckwitz: "I'm still super happy."
Kim Kalicki (Wiesbaden), the third German starter in the field, only ended up in twelfth place due to a torn meniscus and back problems.
»I was hoping for more.
But to know what the track is like, it's good to drive mono," said Kalicki on ARD.
At the end of the third run, the race was interrupted for about ten minutes after Australian Sarah Blizzard hit her head on the ice channel wall in a fall.
According to initial assessments, she did not suffer any serious injuries.
On the second World Cup weekend (March 1st to 3rd) Nolte, Buckwitz and Kalicki will fight for gold in the pairs.
In contrast to the mono, in which the world leaders are close together, the trio and especially Olympic champion Nolte are clearly the favorites.
A German duo has won every World Cup race so far this season.
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