Belgium's Kim Meylemans Wins Historic Skeleton World Cup

A Belgian athlete just sledded into the history books, and her journey shows what dedication and consistency can achieve.

Kim Meylemans claimed Belgium's first-ever overall World Cup victory in women's skeleton after finishing third at the season finale in Altenberg, Germany. The European Champion dominated the 2025/2026 season with six podium finishes across seven races, earning 1,443 points and the coveted golden crystal globe trophy.

The final race itself delivered thrilling performances. Jacqueline Pfeifer of Germany won the day, smashing the Altenberg track record in her second run with a blistering 57.06 seconds. The 2018 Olympic silver medalist bookended her season perfectly, having also won the opening race in Cortina d'Ampezzo.

Local favorite Susanne Kreher, the 2023 World Champion, celebrated her first podium of the season with a second-place finish in front of her home crowd. Beijing 2022 bronze medalist Kimberley Bos finished fourth, narrowly missing the podium but earning her best result of the season.

Meylemans' historic victory comes at the perfect moment, just weeks before the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics. Her consistency throughout the season proved unbeatable, building a commanding lead that secured the overall title even before the final race.

The Ripple Effect

Meylemans' achievement opens doors for Belgian winter sports that extend far beyond one trophy. Small nations rarely dominate winter sliding sports, which require expensive facilities and extensive training infrastructure. Her victory proves athletes from any country can reach the pinnacle with the right support and determination.

The win also energizes Belgium's winter sports community heading into the Olympics. Young Belgian athletes now have a homegrown champion to look up to, someone who showed that breaking through traditional powerhouses in winter sports is possible.

Pfeifer finished second overall with 1,338 points, while Britain's Tabitha Stoecker claimed third place with 1,236 points. Stoecker's sixth-place finish in Altenberg was enough to overtake defending champion Janine Flock of Austria, who withdrew from the final due to health reasons.

The timing couldn't be better for momentum heading into the Olympics, where Meylemans will carry Belgium's hopes and her nation's first World Cup crown down the ice.