From Altenberg, GER
(January 15, 2023) – Lisa Buckwitz is an Olympic gold medalist, and she’s won a small pile of medals over her World Cup bobsled career, but all as a brakewoman. On Sunday in the women’s bobsled race she took gold to win her first World Cup gold as a pilot.
The German took a .18 lead over teammate Kim Kalicki into the second heat of competition in Altenberg, with fellow German Laura Nolte and perennial Altenberg podium finisher Kaillie Humphries all in contention for gold.
On the second run Humphries went first. The American hadn’t finished off the podium in Altenberg since 2008 and had no plans on doing so again. Her second run was enough to put her into the lead with three to go.
Nolte was next, and was just a tick slower than Humphries on her second run, and moved into a tie with the American to guarantee Humphries her tenth straight World Cup medal between the monobob and two-seater.
It was then Kalicki’s turn, and on her home track Kalicki set the quick time of the heat to move into the lead with only Buckwitz to go.
Buckwitz, whose last World Cup gold medal came on the brakes of Kalicki, had a big lead early, but a late skid in the uphill section of the track nearly cost her gold. She was able to hang on, however, and took gold by .18 over Kalicki.
The win was Buckwitz’s fifth World Cup gold medal overall, but first as a pilot. She’d previously won medals as a pilot in the Monbob World Series and in the European Cup.
Kalicki’s silver was her first of the season, and goes with a pair of golds and pair of bronzes.
Romania’s Andreea Grecu finished fifth, China’s Qing Ying sixth, and Canada’s Bianca Ribi seventh in her first World Cup start in Altenberg.
Cynthia Appiah was scored as a disqualification after a crash that ejected brakewoman Leah Walkeden. Appiah did finish her run, but because her brakewoman was left behind she was disqualified.
With three races to go in the IBSF World Cup season Kim Kalicki holds a .23 point advantage over Laura Nolte. Kaillie Humphries is third, 43 points back.
Results:
| Pos | Names | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
| 1 | Buckwitz / Lipperheide | GER | 7 | 5.64 | 5.62 | 56.41 | 56.76 | 1:53.17 |
| 2 | Kalicki / Fiebig | GER | 4 | 5.68 | 5.68 | 56.59 | 56.70 | 1:53.29 |
| 3 | Humphries / Jones | USA | 1 | 5.74 | 5.77 | 56.70 | 56.85 | 1:53.55 |
| 3 | Nolte / Neunecker | GER | 5 | 5.78 | 5.78 | 56.66 | 56.89 | 1:53.55 |
| 5 | Grecu / Vlad | ROU | 3 | 5.93 | 5.90 | 57.15 | 57.35 | 1:54.50 |
| 6 | Ying / Wang | CHN | 6 | 5.83 | 5.86 | 57.24 | 57.41 | 1:54.65 |
| 7 | Ribi / Haughey | CAN | 2 | 5.89 | 5.83 | 57.72 | 57.71 | 1:55.43 |
| DSQ | Appiah / Walkeden | CAN | 8 | 5.78 | 5.73 | 57.65 | DSQ |
