Aussie Bree Walker Makes Bobsled History Before Olympics

Australia's Bree Walker just carved her name into winter sports history, becoming the first Australian ever to win a bobsled World Cup at Switzerland's legendary St Moritz-Celerina track.

The 33-year-old Queenslander dominated the monobob competition with nerves of steel. Racing last in the final run, she posted a combined time of 2:23.27, finishing more than half a second ahead of Switzerland's Melanie Hasler.

Walker's opening run of 1:11.98 was the fastest of the round, setting the tone for what would become her third World Cup victory this season. She's now racked up six World Cup wins in her career and sits second on the overall standings with 1,219 points, just 27 points behind German leader Laura Nolte.

The timing couldn't be better. With the Milano-Cortina Winter Olympics starting next month, Walker is emerging as a genuine medal contender for Australia in a sport where the country rarely sees podium finishes.

She credits much of her success to coach Pierre Lueders, who knows the challenging St Moritz track intimately. "Pierre has been teaching me for years, and it's been a slow process," Walker said after her victory.

The Ripple Effect

Walker's breakthrough represents something bigger than one athlete's success. She's proving that Australian winter sports athletes can compete at the highest level on the world's most prestigious tracks, inspiring a new generation of kids who might not see snow at home but dream of Olympic glory.

Her journey from Queensland to the icy curves of St Moritz shows that geography doesn't determine destiny. Walker bounced back from a ninth-place finish in Germany just weeks ago to claim gold at one of bobsled's most historic venues.

She returns to St Moritz on Monday for the two-woman bobsled event with teammate Kiara Reddingius, carrying momentum and confidence into the final stretch before the Olympics.

Australia might be known for its beaches and summer sports, but Walker is rewriting that story one golden run at a time.