German Bobsledder Laura Nolte Breaks Two Records at World Cup

Laura Nolte just delivered the perfect Olympics warmup. The German bobsledder and her brakewoman Deborah Levi broke two longstanding records at the World Cup finale in Altenberg, winning both the race and the overall season title.

Nolte shattered the eight-year-old start record with a blazing 5.50 seconds, beating a mark set by American legend Elana Meyers Taylor back in 2018. She didn't stop there, improving her own track record to 55.96 seconds as she flew down the German ice.

The victory holds special meaning for the duo. Nolte and Levi won gold together at the 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics, and they're now heading into the 2026 Milano Cortina Games with serious momentum.

American star Kaillie Armbruster Humphries, herself a two-time Olympic champion, finished second both in Altenberg and in the overall standings. German teammate Kim Kalicki rounded out the podium in third place.

Why This Inspires

Breaking records is always impressive, but doing it right before the Olympics shows remarkable confidence and form. Nolte didn't just win the two-woman bobsleigh World Cup. She also claimed the monobob World Cup title the day before and took home the combined World Cup crown, sweeping every possible championship in her sport.

For Canadian pilot Cynthia Appiah, the race brought personal success too. Her fifth-place finish marked her best result of the entire Olympic season, proving that persistence pays off even at the highest level.

The timing couldn't be better for women's bobsleigh. With the Winter Olympics just weeks away, these athletes are hitting their peak performance when it matters most. The sport is thriving, with multiple countries fielding competitive teams and records falling at a track known for its challenging layout.

Nolte now carries the momentum of a perfect season into her title defense, showing the world that champions rise to the occasion when the stakes are highest.