German-American Showdown Heats Up Olympic Bobsled Competition

German and American teams dominated the first half of Olympic two-woman bobsled competition in Italy, claiming all top five spots. Defending champion Laura Nolte from Germany leads the field, while recent monobob gold medalist Elana Meyers Taylor suffered a devastating crash that ended her medal chances.

CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – The fierce competition between German and American bobsledders delivered thrilling action Friday during the opening day of Olympic two-woman bobsled racing, with teams from both nations claiming every spot in the top five heading into the weekend finale.

Germany’s Laura Nolte, the reigning champion in this event, sits atop the leaderboard at the midway mark alongside her brakewoman Deborah Levi. The duo demonstrated remarkable precision, setting a track record of 56.97 seconds in their opening run before improving to 56.96 on their second attempt.

With just 0.62 seconds separating the leading five sleds, Saturday’s final two runs will determine the medal winners. Notably absent from medal contention will be America’s Elana Meyers Taylor, who captured monobob gold earlier this week but experienced a catastrophic second run that derailed her championship hopes.

Nolte has established herself as the sport’s premier pilot, capturing three consecutive World Cup championships and winning five of seven races this season. Despite her record-setting performance, she acknowledged room for improvement.

“On the first run I messed up corner one and when you lose speed there it’s hard to get it back in the down part,” Nolte explained after her track record run.

Germany’s second sled features Lisa Buckwitz, who earned gold as a brakewoman in 2018 and now competes as a pilot. Partnered with Neele Schuten, Buckwitz trails by just 0.18 seconds after showing impressive form during practice sessions throughout the week.

American veteran Kaillie Humphries, who previously won Olympic gold for Canada in 2010 and 2014 before representing the United States, demonstrated masterful driving skills alongside brakewoman Jasmine Jones. After leading following the first run, they now sit in third place, just five hundredths behind Buckwitz.

Germany’s third entry of Kim Kalicki and newcomer Talea Prepens holds fourth position, while Americans Kaysha Love and Azaria Hill round out the top five.

The most dramatic storyline involves Meyers Taylor, competing in her fifth Olympics at age 41 with four previous medals in this discipline. Teamed with explosive heptathlete Jadin O’Brien, who only began bobsledding months ago, they appeared competitive after their opening run before disaster struck.

During their second attempt, the pair crashed into the wall shortly after entering their sled, sliding sideways and losing crucial momentum. Their time of 57.99 seconds ranked 21st among 25 competitors, dropping them to 12th overall and effectively ending their medal pursuit.

“We came out of the start grooves, hit right. I tried to steer it away from the wall and just could not react in time,” Meyers Taylor said, reflecting on her six Olympic medals across five Games.

“So we hit, skidded up the first curve, and after you do that it’s game over. When you make that kind of mistake, that is a devastating mistake.”

Historical dominance by Germany, the United States, and Canada continues in this event, with these nations claiming 17 of 18 available medals since two-woman bobsled joined the Olympics in 2002. Italy’s single bronze medal at the 2006 Turin Games represents the only exception to this pattern.

Saturday’s conclusion appears likely to extend this streak, with all medal contenders representing these three powerhouse nations.