From Calgary, CAN
(Feb. 22, 2019) – Mimi Rahneva won her first World Cup gold medal outside of St. Moritz, cruising to victory in Calgary.

Rahneva was well ahead of everyone in both heats on her way to a .46 victory over German Tina Hermann. The win was her third IBSF gold medal in Calgary, having won two previously in North American Cup action.
Hermann finished second, just ahead of Elisabeth Maier in third in a race that was originally scheduled for Königssee, but was rescheduled due to heavy snow.
World Cup point leader Elena Nikitina finished fourth, with Jane Channell helping out all three Canadian women in the top five in fifth. Olympic Bronze Medalist Laura Deas finished sixth.
The silver medal for Hermann combined with the fourth place for Nikitina moved Hermann within 107 points of the World Cup title going into Saturday’s race. Nikitina needs to finish 13th or better to win the 2018/2019 World Cup.
A week after winning bronze in Lake Placid, Kendall Wesenberg scored a top ten finish in Calgary in eighth place. Savannah Graybill finished 16th as the second American in the field.
Despite not putting anyone in the medals, it was a solid day all around for the British skeleton women. Laura Deas led the way with her sixth place finish, one spot ahead of Kimberley Murray who moved up from tenth on her first run. Madelaine Smith finished tenth to round out the British effort.
Results:
Pos | Name | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Total |
1 | Mirela Rahneva | CAN | 13 | 5.29 | 5.32 | 57.38 | 57.14 | 1:54.52 |
2 | Tina Hermann | GER | 10 | 5.47 | 5.46 | 57.74 | 57.24 | 1:54.98 |
3 | Elisabeth Maier | CAN | 3 | 5.40 | 5.37 | 57.75 | 57.45 | 1:55.20 |
4 | Elena Nikitina | RUS | 8 | 5.19 | 5.24 | 57.71 | 57.57 | 1:55.28 |
5 | Jane Channell | CAN | 6 | 5.32 | 5.32 | 58.08 | 57.37 | 1:55.45 |
6 | Laura Deas | GBR | 11 | 5.41 | 5.39 | 58.05 | 57.45 | 1:55.50 |
7 | Kimberley Murray | GBR | 16 | 5.51 | 5.42 | 58.29 | 57.37 | 1:55.66 |
8 | Kendall Wesenberg | USA | 12 | 5.64 | 5.57 | 58.13 | 57.68 | 1:55.81 |
9 | Sophia Griebel | GER | 5 | 5.50 | 5.48 | 58.21 | 57.80 | 1:56.01 |
10 | Madelaine Smith | GBR | 14 | 5.43 | 5.44 | 58.11 | 57.95 | 1:56.06 |
11 | Kim Meylemans | BEL | 1 | 5.40 | 5.40 | 58.40 | 58.03 | 1:56.43 |
12 | Renata Khuzina | RUS | 4 | 5.45 | 5.42 | 58.57 | 57.91 | 1:56.48 |
13 | Kimberley Bos | NED | 7 | 5.46 | 5.45 | 58.60 | 58.01 | 1:56.61 |
14 | Yulia Kanakina | RUS | 9 | 5.19 | 5.21 | 58.30 | 58.46 | 1:56.76 |
15 | Marina Gilardoni | SUI | 2 | 5.48 | 5.48 | 58.81 | 58.14 | 1:56.95 |
16 | Savannah Graybill | USA | 15 | 5.69 | 5.61 | 58.60 | 58.55 | 1:57.15 |