Cynthia Appiah Wins Bobsleigh Bronze at World Cup Season Finale in Lake Placid

LAKE PLACID, NY—Cynthia Appiah saved her best for last, winning her first monobob medal of the World Cup bobsleigh season on Friday, taking the bronze in Lake Placid, New York.

Appiah finally broke onto the podium with a two-run time of 1:59.13 down the challenging 1,455-metre track that twists and turns down Mount Van Hoevenberg.

The 33-year-old had struggled all season to find the top form she demonstrated one year ago where she finished third in the overall World Cup standings.

“It feels amazing to get this weight off my shoulders,” said Appiah, who crashed on her final run in Lake Placid last year while sliding in third place. “Today was a bit of redemption and a reminder to ‘don’t count me out yet.’”

The Torontonian hopped out of her sled when it came to a stop across the finish line, jumping up and down, high-fiving spectators while making her way onto the finish dock after locking up her 10th career monobob podium on the World Cup circuit.

“The season has not gone the way I would have liked, so to finally crack the podium on what I consider my home track has been exhilarating,” said Appiah, who racked up one silver and four bronze medals last season. “I can’t overstate the importance of this podium finish. World Championships will be here next year and today was a great trial run for what fans and athletes can expect to see.”

Australia’s Bree Walker took the gold medal with a time of 1:58.67. American Elana Meyers Taylor was rock solid on her home track, clocking second-place times in each heat, to claim the silver-step on the podium at 1:58.91.

Friday’s triumph in Lake Placid was extra special for Appiah, a track that she was introduced to bobsledding on.

“I learned how to be a bobsledder on this track. It was the first place I slid as a brakeman and also as a pilot,” added the 2022 Olympian. “It’s been a second home for me as I’ve progressed through this sport. There is a sense of familiarity here and ease whenever I drive this track.”

Calgary’s Bianca Ribi also hit the start line on Friday. The 28-year-old posted a combined time of 2:00.58 for 12th spot.

Appiah claimed second spot in the Pan American Championships which was held in conjunction with the World Cup, while Ribi was fifth.

In the men’s two-man bobsleigh race Taylor Austin (Lethbridge, Alta.) and Shaquille Murray-Lawrence (Scarborough, Ont.) teamed up to finish 10th at 1:51.39 for their best result of the season. They were third in the Pan American Championships.

Ottawa-based teammates, Pat Norton and Mike Evelyn, were 17th at 1:53.40, and fourth in the Pan American Championship standings.

The Germans swept the men’s podium. Francesco Friedrich and Alexander Schuller finished on top at 1:49.70. Johannes Lochner and Joshua Tasche slid to the silver medal at 1:49.95. Adam Ammour and Benedikt Hertel stopped the clock at 1:50.60 for the bronze.

The final World Cup races of the season are slated for Saturday with the four-man and two-woman bobsleigh races.

WOMEN’S MONOBOB RESULTS: https://www.ibsf.org/en/result/503416/?cHash=72102de86cb4bbc2bd72b3b6a6d08bf0

TWO-MAN BOBSLEIGH RESULTS: https://www.ibsf.org/en/result/503412/?cHash=a8024906d170f9bf499b4ebd31bede4e

Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton is a non-profit organization and the national governing body for the sports of bobsleigh and skeleton in Canada. With the support of its valued corporate partners – Karbon, Kuri-tec, Athabasca Oil Corporation in collaboration with Canada Action’s I Love Canadian Energy campaign – along with the Government of Canada, Own the Podium and the Canadian Olympic Committee, Bobsleigh CANADA Skeleton develops champions in the community, on and off the track, who have a passion for bobsleigh and skeleton. Please visit us at www.bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca.