Bree Walker claims back-to-back World Cup gold as teen sensation secures historic silver
Updated . First published at
Australian bobsleigh star Bree Walker has struck gold again.
After a dominant final run in Sigulda, Latvia, Walker secured her second consecutive World Cup monobob victory — marking the fifth gold medal of her career.
Walker opened her campaign with a 53.12-second opening heat, clocking the fourth-fastest time of the round.
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Bree Walker celebrates her final run at the World Cup event in Latvia. Viesturs Lacis/IBSF
In a decisive second heat, Walker delivered one of her finest performances of the 2025/2026 season.
Pairing a clinical start with pinpoint precision, she posted the field's fastest time of 53.36 seconds to surge into first with a combined time of 1:46.48.
Walker's consistency has been the hallmark of her season, with three podiums and two wins from just four starts, including a dominant display in Lillehammer last weekend.
Germany's Laura Nolte took silver with a combined time of 1:46.59 —trailing Walker by a mere 0.11 seconds — while Austria's Katrin Beierl rounded out the podium for bronze in 1:46.62.
Speaking afterwards, Walker reflected on her victory, which elevates the 33-year-old to second in the overall World Cup standings as the tour heads into the holiday break.
"Feeling on top of the world to finish 2025 with another win in the monobob," she said.
The women's monobob podium in Sigulda, Latvia, headlined by gold medallist Bree Walker. Viesturs Lacis/IBSF
"It was a great race today, my second run was awesome. When I crossed the line, it got me really fired up, and I knew I'd move up a few spots, and to finish on top of the podium is just an awesome feeling."
After four events, Walker has closed the gap to the top of the standings. She now sits just three points shy of the overall lead with 842 points, trailing Nolte (845).
Nolte's teammate, Lisa Buckwitz, sits in third on 760.
Walker will spend the break in Calgary, Canada, reunited with her parents, who have made the long trip from Cairns to spend the holidays with her.
"Over the Christmas break, I'll be spending time with my Mum and Dad in Calgary. They've travelled all the way from Australia to join me, and it will be their first white Christmas, which is a big change from Cairns to minus 20 degrees in Calgary," she said.
"I'm really looking forward to enjoying a wonderful Christmas with family and friends, while also taking the time to recover and reenergize for the rest of the season."
Bree Walker poses with her her second straight World Cup monobob gold medal. Viesturs Lacis/IBSF
Walker will return to the track in the New Year when the World Cup circuit moves to Winterberg, Germany, on January 3.
Meanwhile, Melbourne teenager Indra Brown has extended her historic World Cup debut, clinching a silver medal in the freeski halfpipe at Copper Mountain, USA.
Following her bronze in China last weekend, the 15-year-old has now secured back-to-back podiums in her first two career starts.
The result improves on her bronze medal from her debut, where she made history as the youngest Australian ever to claim a FIS World Cup medal in any winter sport.
Navigating flat light and tricky conditions, Brown opened the best-of-two final with a confident 80.00. The score immediately slotted her into second place.
While she looked poised to climb higher with her final run, a crash on her last jump — while attempting a high-difficulty new trick — ended the effort prematurely. However, her opening mark held firm to secure the silver.
Indra Brown claimed a silver medal at the World Cup event in Copper Mountain, United States. FIS/Andrew Wevers
Brown's podium run included a left-side 900, right-side 900, left-side 720, switch right-side 540 and switch left-side 720, finishing strong with an alley-oop. Her ability to secure grabs on nearly every jump was the key to her score of 80.00.
Britain's Zoe Atkin proved unbeatable with a top score of 89.25, while Kexin Chang of China secured the final podium spot with a 77.50.
Brown's back-to-back podiums have rocketed her into second place in the overall World Cup standings. With 140 points, she currently trails leader Atkin (180) but holds a comfortable lead over Chang (105).
The teenager's historic season continues at the Calgary World Cup on January 3.
Every run is now a stepping stone toward the Italian Alps, with both Walker and Brown eyeing qualification for the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Games in just two months' time.
