Tabby Stoecker wins glorious gold in only her second World Cup race as British Skeleton land medal of each colour in La Plagne
Tabby Stoecker won a stunning gold in only her second ISBF World Cup race as University of Bath-based British Skeleton athletes claimed a full set of medals in La Plagne, France on Friday.
World Champion Matt Weston and fellow Olympian Marcus Wyatt also finished second and third respectively in the men’s race as the GB squad excelled at the second international event of the 2023-24 season.
Reigning Junior European Champion Stoecker produced two consistent performances to finish top of a 31-strong field, including Olympic and World Champions, as she claimed Britain’s first women’s World Cup gold since Laura Deas won in Altenberg eight years ago.
“It’s an amazing feeling, I can’t stop smiling!” said Stoecker, who joins double Olympic Champion Lizzy Yarnold and Olympic medallists Deas, Shelley Rudman and Alex Coomber in winning women’s World Cup gold. “I knew I had put down some solid training runs but I never imagined that I’d take gold against such a great field.”
Fellow Brits Freya Tarbit and Amelia Coltman were 14th and 20th respectively, with the pair only having a combined total of five World Cup races behind them.
There were three Brits in the top five of the men’s race in the afternoon, with Weston and Wyatt – who recorded the two fastest times on the decisive second run – being joined on the wider podium by team-mate Craig Thompson.
What a race! 🇬🇧 🇫🇷
Matt Weston and Marcus Wyatt claim silver and bronze in an exciting race out in La Plagne 🥈🥉 pic.twitter.com/8fdlH9oy5s
— British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association (@The_BBSA) December 8, 2023
“It was a great result for the team as a whole,” said Weston, who is also reigning European Champion. “I’m super happy for Tabby first of all and also for Matt and Craig, too. To have British men and women up there fighting for medals is great to see.”
The next World Cup takes place in Igls, Austria on Friday 15th December before the circuit takes a break over the Christmas period.
Athletes with the British Bobsleigh and Skeleton Association are based at the University of Bath, home to the UK’s only outdoor push-start track. They also do their strength and conditioning work at the Team Bath Sports Training Village. Click here to find out more.
Picture credit: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis Rekords
