Hallie Clarke of Brighton, Ontario has won the gold medal in women’s skeleton at the 2024 International Bobsled and Skeleton Federation World Championships in Winterberg, Germany on Friday. According to CBC Sports, at the age of 19, Clarke became the youngest women’s skeleton racer of all-time to win the gold medal at a World Championship.
Clarke posted a winning time of 3:51.27. Kim Meylemans of Belgium won the silver medal with a time of 3:51.49. Hannah Neise of Germany won the bronze medal with a time of 3:51.53. Clarke reached the podium by 0.28 seconds over Tabitha Stoecker of Great Britain, who was in fourth place with a time of 3:51.55.
Clarke entered the World Skeleton Championships as a two-time World Cup medalist. She won the silver medal in Whistler on November 24, 2022, and Innsbruck on February 10, 2023. However, it should be noted that Clarke won her medals as part of the United States. She joined the Canadian skeleton program at the World Cup level this season when they named Joe Cecchini as her personal coach and that they proved to her that the program was more stable after general concerns over mistreatment of athletes during the Kaillie Humphries era. The gold medal for Clarke will give her confidence as she prepares for the 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Milan/Cortina d’Ampezzo.
