Canada’s Kim McRae captures bronze medal in women’s singles at luge worlds
IGLS, Austria — Canada’s Kim McRae become the second Canadian to ever reach the individual podium at the luge world championships on Saturday by capturing bronze in the women’s singles.
The Calgary native finished in one minute 19.952 seconds, behind German Tatjana Huefner, who won gold in 1:19.712. Erin Hamlin of the United States was second at 1:19.925. It was Huefner’s fifth career individual gold medal and first in five years.
“It is pretty incredible. After that first run I thought I had no chance,” said McRae, who made a costly mistake sliding too early into corner nine. “It honestly didn’t cross my mind at all that I could be a medallist today heading into the last run. I was two-tenths behind and just thought I was out of it.”
The 24-year-old McRae joins Alex Gough as the only two Canadians to reach the singles podium at the worlds in a non-Olympic year. Gough, also of Calgary, accomplished the feat with a bronze in 2011 in Italy and again in 2013 in Whistler, B.C. Gough finished fifth overall on Saturday in 1:20.001.