Four years later, Cynthia Appiah has conquered the slide in Igls, Austria, the site of her World Cup debut as a bobsleigh pilot.
The 32-year-old Canadian Olympian made the medal podium in Saturday’s women’s monobob with a two-heat time of one minute 49.42.
“I’ve had a love-hate relationship ever since [2019]’ Appiah told Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton, referring to the 14-cornered Austrian slide. “It’s a starter track so I should really shine here, but today is my first time on the podium.
“I’ve only ever been small, so it’s like getting the monkey off my back when I finally do.”
Sixth after a disappointing opening heat — “I knew I was within striking distance,” said Appiah — set the fastest time in heat two with a 54.63 and improved three places in the standings.
CLOCK | Appiah drives the fastest 2nd run and gets bronze:
A little soliloquy and a backslap from trainer Lyndon Rush also served the Toronto athlete well ahead of her second 1,428-meter run on the course.
“Lyndon came to the start house after the first run, which he doesn’t normally do,” she said, “and let me go over the run again. I really think that was the difference.
“I know myself and I know what I’m capable of, it’s just putting it down and showing everyone. I came out in that second heat and felt like I was back in the zone. When I [finished] I knew I had put down a solid [run].”
I wish I was a little closer to the top of the table, but that crash at Lake Placid [earlier this season] cost me something. — Canadian slider Cynthia Appiah
It was Appiah’s fourth podium of the season and third straight bronze after opening the season with a silver at her home track in Whistler, BC
She is third in the World Cup Total Score in monobob and has one race left next weekend in Sigulda, Latvia.
“I’m happy where I am. I wish I was a little closer to the top of the standings but that crash at Lake Placid [earlier this season] cost me a bit,” Appiah said. “I’m still third and I’ve given my rivals some breathing room, so I’m looking forward to Sigulda and hoping to get my hands on a crystal ball.”
Humphries’ podium streak ends
Germany’s Lisa Buckwitz won Saturday’s gold medal in a time of 1:49.20, followed by Australia’s Breeana Walker (1:49.38).
Calgary-born Kaillie Humphries, representing the United States, had halted her streak of consecutive World Cup podium finishes at six when she finished 0.03 seconds behind Appiah.
The two-woman bobsleigh competition is scheduled for Sunday, with heats at 4:00 p.m. ET and 5:20 p.m
Watch live coverage on CBCSports.ca, the CBC Sports App and CBC Gem for iOS and Android devices.
Later on Saturday Canadians Pat Norton, William Ashley, David Caixeiro and Mathieu Gosselin finished 14th in the 4-man bobsleigh and clocked a time of 1:42.46, 1.81 seconds behind the victorious German pilot Francesco Friedrich.
Brad Hall of Great Britain took silver while Johannes Lochner of Germany took bronze.
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