Janine Flock has finally claimed her first Olympic gold medal in women’s skeleton at the Milan Cortina Games. The 36-year-old Austrian athlete achieved a remarkable victory on February 10, 2024, completing her four runs in a total time of 3 minutes, 49.02 seconds. This win stands out as the pinnacle of her career, marking the end of a long wait for Olympic success after 16 previous appearances at both the Olympics and world championships without a medal.
Flock’s journey to gold has been a challenging one. Despite being a three-time World Cup overall champion with a record of 15 World Cup race wins and 45 World Cup medals, she has faced disappointments in past Olympic competitions. Flock finished fourth in 2018, ninth in 2014, and tenth in 2022. However, on this occasion, she maintained her lead throughout the competition, holding off strong performances from Germany’s Susanne Kreher and Jacqueline Pfeifer, who finished second and third, respectively.
Flock’s emotional victory was palpable as she celebrated with her nation’s flag shortly after her final run. The medal ceremony marked her first Olympic medal in four attempts, a significant milestone in a career spanning nearly two decades. As she lifted the flag, the culmination of her hard work and perseverance became evident.
In the final standings, Kreher secured the silver medal with a time of 3:49.32, while Pfeifer, the silver medalist from the Pyeongchang Games in 2018, captured bronze at 3:49.46. Kelly Curtis from the United States finished in 12th place with a time of 3:52.13, and Mystique Ro followed in 15th at 3:52.48.
Flock entered the final two runs with a narrow lead of just 0.04 seconds over Kreher. During the third heat, Kreher initially surpassed Flock’s time, leading by nearly two-tenths of a second. However, as the run progressed, Kreher could not maintain her advantage and finished the heat 0.21 seconds behind Flock. This moment was significant; in 2018, Flock had experienced a similar situation where she lost her lead in the final run and ended up out of the medals entirely.
In this competition, Flock showcased her formidable driving skills, crucial for success in skeleton racing. Known for not being the fastest starter, she compensated for this by expertly navigating the track, finding speed in the latter stages of her runs. By the final heat, she had widened her lead to an impressive margin of three-tenths of a second, a testament to her skill and determination.
Flock’s victory is not just a personal achievement but a validation of her long and storied career in the sport. Her triumph at the Milan Cortina Games will be remembered as a defining moment, inspiring future generations of athletes in the world of skeleton racing.
