Czech Skeleton Star Fernstädtová Shines in St. Moritz World Cup
The picturesque town of St. Moritz, switzerland, once again played host to the thrilling world of skeleton racing, as athletes from across the globe gathered for the penultimate stop of the IBSF World Cup. Among them was Anna Fernstädtová, the 28-year-old Czech skeletonist, who delivered a commendable performance, finishing 19th overall in the women’s event.
Fernstädtová, who started first in the opening round, clocked a time of 1:10.55 minutes. Despite losing nearly a second to the eventual winner, Janine Flock of Austria, she managed to secure her spot in the second round. This marked a notable advancement from her performance last year, where she finished 26th in St. Moritz.
In the second run, Fernstädtová showcased her resilience, accelerating by more than six-tenths of a second to finish with the 17th-fastest time. This improvement allowed her to climb three positions securing her place among the elite top ten skeleton women in the World Cup standings.
Flock, the reigning champion, celebrated her second consecutive victory, finishing with a combined time of 2:18.65 minutes. She narrowly edged out Belgium’s Kim Meylemans by 18 hundredths of a second,while Brazil’s Nicole Silveira claimed the third spot. Fernstädtová, despite her strong effort, finished 1.81 seconds behind Flock.
The St.Moritz track, known for its challenging curves and historic significance, proved to be a formidable test for all competitors. As one of the few natural ice tracks in the world, it has been a cornerstone of skeleton racing since its inception in 1884 [[2]].
Looking ahead, the focus shifts to the men’s race, featuring Czech athlete Timon Drahoňovský, and the mixed doubles event, both set to take place later in the day. The World Cup will conclude on February 7 in Lillehammer, Norway, where European titles will also be decided.
Key Results from St. Moritz Women’s Skeleton Event
| Position | Athlete | Country | Total Time (Run 1 + Run 2) | Gap to Winner |
|———-|———————–|————–|—————————-|—————|
| 1 | Janine Flock | Austria | 2:18.65 (1:09.56 + 1:09.09) | – |
| 2 | Kim Meylemans | Belgium | 2:18.83 (1:09.62 + 1:09.21) | -0.18 |
| 3 | Nicole Silveira | Brazil | 2:18.92 (1:09.61 + 1:09.31) | -0.27 |
| … | … | … | … | … |
| 19 | anna Fernstädtová | Czech Republic | 2:20.46 (1:10.55 + 1:09.91) | -1.81 |
Current World Cup Standings (After 7 Races)
| Position | Athlete | Country | Points |
|———-|———————–|————–|——–|
| 1 | Janine Flock | Austria | 1390 |
| 2 | Jacqueline Neise | Germany | 1300 |
| 3 | Kimberley Bos | Netherlands | 1273 |
| … | … | … | … |
| 10 | Anna Fernstädtová | Czech Republic | 972 |
as the competition heats up, fans can catch all the action live on IBSF-TV [[1]], where thrilling point-of-view footage from the St. Moritz track brings the adrenaline of skeleton racing to life.
Stay tuned for more updates as the world Cup heads to Lillehammer for its grand finale, where the battle for European titles will undoubtedly deliver more unforgettable moments.
