Kimberley Bos slides to gold at Lake Placid, becomes 1st Dutch skeleton athlete to win world title

Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands has achieved the pinnacle of success in her sport by winning the gold medal at the world championships in skeleton racing. This victory completes her collection of the biggest skeleton medals, as she had previously won bronze at the Beijing Olympics in 2022 and silver at the world championships two years ago.

Bos, who is only 20 years old, put on a stellar performance in the final two runs on Friday to claim the title at Mount Van Hoevenberg. She emphasized the importance of letting success come to her rather than forcing it, stating, “You can’t force sliding.” This victory marks the first time a Dutch athlete has won a gold medal in skeleton at the world championships.

In recent years, there has been a trend of different women emerging as champions in the sport of skeleton. Tina Hermann of Germany won the world title in 2021, Hannah Neise of Germany claimed Olympic gold in 2022, Susanne Kreher of Germany won the world championship in 2023, and Canada’s Hallie Clarke was the reigning world champion prior to Bos’s victory.

Speaking of Hallie Clarke, the 19-year-old athlete from Brighton, Ontario, finished in eighth place in this year’s world championships. Despite being in third place after the opening two runs, Clarke’s total time of 3:41.43 left her 1.37 seconds behind Bos. Jane Channell of North Vancouver, British Columbia, finished in 12th place with a time of 3:42.15.

Bos’s winning time of 3 minutes and 40.06 seconds was enough to secure her victory by a margin of 0.67 seconds, matching the largest margin of victory by a woman at the world championships in the past decade. Mystique Ro of the United States finished in second place with a time of 3:40.73, while Anna Fernstaedt of the Czech Republic, who overcame a diagnosis of Type 1 diabetes three years ago, claimed the third spot with a time of 3:40.81.

The world championships also saw Austria’s Janine Flock, who was leading the overall World Cup standings, finish in fifth place, just behind Brazil’s Nicole Rocha Silveira. This victory for Bos is a testament to her determination and skill in the sport of skeleton racing.

Overall, the world championships in skeleton racing showcased the talent and diversity of female athletes in the sport, with each year bringing a new champion to the forefront. Bos’s historic win as the first Dutch woman to capture a world title is a testament to her dedication and skill in the sport.