Vötter & Oberhofer Win First Doubles Gold

From Whistler, CAN

(December 10, 2022) – Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer came from behind to win their first career World Cup doubles gold medal in Whistler.

The Italians were in third coming into the second heat, only .025 behind leaders Jessica Degenhardt and Chyenne Rosenthal of Germany, with Americans Summer Britcher and Emily Sweeney only .004 behind the leaders in second.

On the second run, World Cup leaders Selina Egle and Lara Kipp of Austria put down a very smooth run to take the lead with the three other contenders to come. Vötter and Oberhofer were next, and their second run was not only quick, it was a new track record run.

The pressure was on the American and German teams. Britcher and Sweeney had trouble through Curve 13, and those issues were enough to scrub away any chance of gold.

That left defending world champions Degenhardt and Rosenthal. The Germans set the quick time of the heat off the top, and were otherwise quick on their run down. One skid, however, was all it took to knock them not only out of contention for gold, but for silver as well.

That gave the victory to Vötter and Oberhofer, with Egle and Kipp winning silver. Degenhardt and Rosenthal held on for bronze, only .056 back.

Britcher and Sweeney finished fourth, just ahead of teammates Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby in fifth. Canada’s Caitlin Nash and Natalie Corless finished sixth.

USA’s Maya Chan and Reannyn Weiler finished seventh, while Romania’s Raluca Stramaturaru and Mihaela-Carmen Manolescu rounded out the eight sled field.

Results: