Bobsledder Bree Walker is on top of the world after winning Australia's first ever gold medal at the World Cup in Lake Placid, New York.
The Queenslander's victory enabled her to leapfrog 2022 Olympic gold medallist Laura Nolte (1547 points) into second spot with 1549 in the monobob season standings, behind only world champion Lisa Buckwitz (1644), of Germany.
It was Walker's career-best end-of-season ranking and her fifth World Cup medal of the year.
Walker started with an incredible first run, setting a track record for Lake Placid of 59.22 seconds, more than a second faster than the old mark.
In the final run, Walker was the final competitor of the event as the leader from the first round, and performed superbly under pressure to again record the fastest time of 59.45 seconds to secure her first World Cup victory with a two-run time of 1:58.67.
American Elana Meyers Taylor on her home track finished second, 0.24 seconds behind Walker, with Cynthia Appiah of Canada 0.46 seconds back in third.
“It feels amazing,” said 31-year-old Walker.
"I came into this week knowing that I can be competitive, and to come away with a win is the best possible way I could end the monobob season, I am so happy.
“Heading into the second run I knew I had to execute what I did in the first run.
"When I crossed the line I couldn’t even see the time or know where I had finished, but I knew it was a good run and I would be in the medals, but even better that it’s the win.”
The final World Cup event of the season takes place at Lake Placid on Sunday, with brakewoman Kiarra Reddingius to join Walker in the two-woman event.
Lake Placid will host the 2025 bobsleigh world championships, ahead of the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.
