Nineteen-year-old Hallie Clarke has made history as only the fifth Canadian, and the second woman, to claim the top spot on the podium at the World Championships in Winterberg, Germany.
Clocking a golden four-run time of 3:51.27, Clarke secured the gold medal, with Belgium’s Kim Meylemans and Germany’s Hannah Neise taking silver and bronze, respectively.
“It’s crazy. It still feels like a dream. It was my goal today to just have fun no matter what,” said Clarke. “I never expected to be in this position. I have been very nervous. I’m still shaking from all the adrenaline, but I just tried to remind myself that I love sliding and racing.”
With this victory, Clarke joins Michelle Kelly as the only Canadian women to win a World Championship crown.
“It is such an honour to have my name mentioned with this group and be a part of that history,” said Clarke. “Today really shows the direction our program is heading, and I think a big part is the support that we have here for the team.”
Raised in Brighton and residing across Canada and the United States, Clarke discovered skeleton at Calgary’s WinSport Canada Olympic Park, following in the athletic footsteps of her figure skater mother and NCAA hockey player father.
At just 17, Clarke has emerged as a rising star in skeleton, and last year, she clinched the U20 Junior World Championship title.
(Written by: Joseph Goden with files from bobsleighcanadaskeleton.ca)
