Tins and Tears: Nolte slips at Monoboob premiere

As veteran, exceptional pilot Humphreys wins the Olympic premiere in the Monoboob, debutant Nolte will have to learn a lesson. The preparation time for the sled, which was difficult to control, was very short.

YANKING (AP) — Laura Nolte’s heartwarming smile after the Olympic premiere in Monoboob, tears rolled down. Ironically, only the 23-year-old Olympic debutant had to explain after his fourth place why the Germans’ gold chain broke in the Yanqing Ice Channel.

“Two good runs are not enough at the Olympics, you need four runs to medal at the Olympics,” said the Winterberg woman. She walked up to Kylie Humphries, 36, applauding and hugged the winner. “Cali has such a clear instinct, she immediately notices that the sled is at a millimeter angle and can fix it right away,” Nolte praised.

Criticism of the still unpopular discipline

When she saw Bob on television in elementary school, Nolte admired Humphries, who once drove for Canada and who has now won gold for the USA for the first time after a dispute with the Association. At number two was his compatriot Elana Meyers Taylor. Canadian Christine de Bruyne, who was eventually 0.30 seconds faster than Nolte, took the bronze. Oberhof’s European champion Mariama Zamanka finished 13th. “In the end, it was important to me that I could somehow finish the mono competition well. I was successful. Tick off, pay attention to both,” said Jamanka.

It renewed criticism of the discipline still disliked, as the European title at St. Moritz also played no part. “My opinion hasn’t changed. I’ve had a good breakwoman week,” she said sarcastically: “They dragged the sledges for me, polished the runners, and now they had nothing to do with the competition.” Many pilots criticize the new discipline and cannot stay in the mono sleeve due to the team spirit preferring to do the four-man bobsled.

“tried to make the best of it”

Also, there was hardly any lead time. The first competition was two years ago, in the Olympic winter also for the first time in the World Cup. “Generally speaking, the preparation time for an Olympic event is usually more than two years, including the Olympic season. But we tried to make the best of it and developed tremendously,” said Jamanca. Nolte. But emphasized that although preparation time was the same for all, female drivers have an advantage “who usually feel more in the steering cables”. Still, she is happy “the Olympics have monoboobs.” After all, She learned to drive in such a small sled and went on to win the 2016 Youth Olympic Games in the monoboob.

After training, after three best times, she was already dreaming of a medal. Jamaica was also the fastest ever. “There was a lot of hope that we could fight for a medal with the two of them,” head coach René Spice said. “In the end, the three with the most experience are up front,” said the detective.

Medals for Jamaica became inaccessible after the first day. “Yesterday was incredibly bad, so I’m not satisfied. You see what happens,” said the 31-year-old. “The first day was so frightening. No matter what turns out to be, this is not a good competition. ,

Jamanka now only has one eye on the two-man bobsled, where she wants to drive to Olympic victories like she did four years ago. “I hope I can do better all the time,” said Jamanka. Two solid runs on Monday should have given him a boost. In addition, Germans now drive in their own FES sleds instead of the Uniform Bob from the World Federation.