From Sigulda, LAT
(January 19, 2023) – Great Britain’s Amelia Coltman slid to gold in Sigulda in the fifth race of the European Cup women’s skeleton circuit, as she beat out Belgium’s Kim Meylemans for the top spot on the podium.
Coltman opened up a big lead, .62 seconds, over Meylemans on the first run. In the second heat Meylemans put down a quick time, the fastest of the race to that point. Coltman matched the time to the hundredth of a second, and that gave the British slider gold.
The win for Coltman was her second straight across all tours, having won gold in her most recent race in Pyeongchang on the Intercontinental Cup. Meylemans, on her way back from an injury suffered in Whistler, had the fourth and fifth quickest starts in the two heats to win silver. Meylemans hadn’t competed on the European Cup circuit since the 2014/2015 season where she had two silvers and a bronze in four races.
Darta Zunte gave Estonia its best ever European Cup medal with a bronze on Zunte’s home track. Zunte tied with Italy’s Alessia Crippa for the final podium spot, 1.07 seconds back behind Coltman.
Germany’s Hanna Staub and Viktoria Hansova finished tied for fifth to round out the top six.
The United States’ Mystique Ro had the quick start in both heats on her way to a seventh place finish. Great Britain’s Ashlyn Bland finished 11th in her second European Cup race.
With Great Britain’s Freya Tarbit out of action this week, Mystique Ro’s seventh place finish was enough to extend her European Cup lead. Tarbit is still second, with Viktoria Hansova up to third overall. Tabitha Stoecker and Hannah Staub round out the top five.
Results:
| Pos | Name | Nation | Bib | Start 1 | Start 2 | Run 1 | Run 2 | Finish |
| 1 | Amelia Coltman | GBR | 9 | 5.12 | 5.06 | 52.50 | 52.33 | 1:44.83 |
| 2 | Kim Meylemans | BEL | 13 | 5.14 | 5.16 | 53.12 | 52.33 | 1:45.45 |
| 3 | Darta Zunte | EST | 5 | 5.34 | 5.32 | 53.16 | 52.74 | 1:45.90 |
| 3 | Alessia Crippa | ITA | 11 | 5.07 | 5.06 | 53.52 | 52.38 | 1:45.90 |
| 5 | Hanna Staub | GER | 7 | 5.46 | 5.45 | 53.50 | 53.14 | 1:46.64 |
| 5 | Viktoria Hansova | GER | 10 | 5.30 | 5.30 | 53.66 | 52.98 | 1:46.64 |
| 7 | Mystique Ro | USA | 12 | 4.99 | 5.03 | 53.59 | 53.15 | 1:46.74 |
| 8 | Julia Erlacher | AUT | 6 | 5.14 | 5.13 | 53.70 | 53.05 | 1:46.75 |
| 9 | Anna Saulite | AUT | 8 | 5.50 | 5.49 | 53.75 | 53.49 | 1:47.24 |
| 10 | Annia Unterscheider | AUT | 4 | 5.51 | 5.43 | 53.93 | 53.40 | 1:47.33 |
| 11 | Ashlyn Bland | GBR | 17 | 5.18 | 5.16 | 53.93 | 53.56 | 1:47.49 |
| 12 | Selina Frohberger | GER | 14 | 5.50 | 5.47 | 54.25 | 53.35 | 1:47.60 |
| 13 | Charlize Reimann | GER | 20 | 5.60 | 5.58 | 54.28 | 53.73 | 1:48.01 |
| 14 | Siji Song | CHN | 15 | 5.44 | 5.49 | 54.31 | 53.85 | 1:48.16 |
| 15 | Marta Andzane | LAT | 16 | 5.44 | 5.47 | 54.66 | 53.59 | 1:48.25 |
| 16 | Darta Deimane | LAT | 2 | 5.31 | 5.29 | 54.76 | 53.97 | 1:48.73 |
| 17 | Laura Legere | LAT | 3 | 5.55 | 5.59 | 54.89 | 54.84 | 1:49.73 |
| 18 | Angel Osakue | ITA | 1 | 5.36 | 5.36 | 55.73 | 56.55 | 1:52.28 |
| 19 | Paulina Ewald Grondal | SWE | 19 | 6.12 | 6.01 | 56.36 | 56.02 | 1:52.38 |
| 20 | Vanesa Vidina | LAT | 18 | 5.43 | 5.35 | 60.64 | 54.32 | 1:54.96 |
