Janine Flock is competing in the Skeleton World Championships in Lake Placid, determined to secure a medal despite challenges. After a difficult first day, she currently ranks 10th, with her teammate Julia Erlacher in 21st. Weather shifts disrupted strategies, but Flock remains close to podium contention, just 0.37 seconds behind third place. Meanwhile, Samuel Maier struggled, falling out of medal contention, while Alexander Schlintner aims for a top-10 finish. The competition continues with final runs for women and men.
Janine Flock Fights for Medals at Skeleton World Championships
In a thrilling turn of events at the Skeleton World Championships held in Lake Placid, Janine Flock is determined to stay in the medal race despite facing challenges. The renowned Olympic track at Mount Van Hoevenberg proved to be a formidable opponent during the competition’s first day, testing the limits of all athletes involved. While the Austrian team faced difficulties, the quest for medals continues, keeping the hopes alive.
Flock, the overall World Cup champion, currently sits in 10th place, with her teammate Julia Erlacher trailing in 21st. Among the male competitors, Alexander Schlintner is positioned at 12th, while European champion Samuel Maier finds himself in 19th place. The team entered the championships with high hopes after a solid World Cup season, but unexpected weather changes introduced new challenges just before the race.
Weather Woes and Performance Challenges
The night before the competition, a shift from icy, sub-zero temperatures to mild, damp conditions wreaked havoc on the athletes’ strategies and gear. Despite the setbacks, Flock’s performance remains commendable; she clocked the ninth-best time in both runs. With just a narrow gap of 0.37 seconds from the third-place Canadian competitor Hallie Clarke, and only 0.59 seconds from the lead, Flock is still in contention for a podium finish.
Reflecting on her runs, Flock noted, “The first run was too warm for my setup, which led to some minor mistakes. In the second run, I pushed harder as the temperatures dropped, but a small error in curve 14 almost caused me to fall off the sled. Tomorrow, I’ll give it my all once again. It’s a great opportunity for team training, and I want to enjoy the experience, especially with my family here to support me.” National coach Michael Grünberger expressed his frustration, stating, “It’s disappointing to see Janine make those mistakes, but the fact that she’s still in the running for a medal is nothing short of remarkable.”
On the flip side, the men’s team faced a tougher challenge. Unfortunately, Samuel Maier’s performance fell short of expectations, as he is no longer in contention for a medal following a rocky start and difficulties in both runs. “I didn’t perform like I did in training, which is incredibly disappointing,” he remarked. Meanwhile, Alexander Schlintner, despite his previous struggles this season, expressed optimism about his performance, aiming for a top-10 finish.
The competition continues on Friday at 4:45 PM CET for the men, while the women will take their final runs for championship medals starting at midnight. Fans can catch all the action live on ORF Sport +.