Ellmauer Holds Off Klots, Stewart for World Champs Gold

From St. Moritz, SUI

(February 3, 2023) – Austria’s Hermann Ellmauer entered the IBSF World Championships a bit of an underdog behind home track sliders Christopher Stewart and Jonas Frei.

He left St. Moritz as the world champion.

Ellmauer had the quickest slide of the second heat to put him just behind Stewart after two heats. On the third run of competition Ellmauer once again had the quick downtime, while Stewart fell behind in second place and Latvia’s Arturs Klots put himself in contention.

On the final run Klots made the big jump up as he put down a time that put him solidly in contention for a gold medal. Stewart, who had slid well all through training and competition, had his worse run of the week and fell behind Klots.

The run Klots had put the pressure on Ellmauer, and the Austrian was able to answer. While he wasn’t quickest, Ellmauer was fast enough to edge out Klots for gold, while Stewart held on for bronze.

“It was really a very close race,” Ellmauer said of the event. “My fourth run was actually not my best, but it was still enough.”

Stewart, while disappointed, was happy to be in the medals.

“There are mixed feelings right now: I’m happy to be on the podium, at the same time I’m disappointed especially about my fourth run and that it wasn’t enough for silver anymore. But Arturs Klots was really strong and Hermann Ellmauer really delivered, especially in the third run.”

Canada’s Lonnie Bissonnette finished fourth after a strong final run offset a very disappointing third heat. USA’s Guillmero Castillo couldn’t repeat his efforts in the first day of sliding and fell to fifth, as did Great Britain’s Corie Mapp, who finished sixth.

Results: