2024-11-16 14:56:00
Janine Flock started her 15th Skeleton World Cup season on Saturday in a crazy race with a podium finish. The 35-year-old Tyrolean only had to admit defeat to the British Amelia Coltman at the start in Pyeongchang on the 2018 Olympic track in rapidly deteriorating warm weather conditions and came second, 0.08 seconds behind. The second Austrian, Anna Saulite, came 32nd.
Samuel Maier was also able to celebrate a good result among the men. The 25-year-old Austrian finished sixth, 0.91 seconds behind German winner Christopher Grotheer.
Flock used the early start number in the first heat and was clearly the fastest in 54.53. Others didn’t fare so well later, for example overall World Cup defending champion Kimberley Bos (NED) was dropped from second to eighth place in the second run.
The circumstances did not change the joy of a total of 37th World Cup podium place (10 wins, 10 x second, 17 x third) for Flock, who narrowly missed out on Olympic bronze on this track six years ago: “I’m really happy! I was able to “I took advantage of my starting number, made few mistakes on the track, and the start times were very good for me. The whole team pushed me.” Using video analysis, she wants to attack again on Sunday and “do it even better”.
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How does Janine Flock maintain her motivation and passion for competing in the demanding sport of skeleton, especially after achieving her 37th World Cup podium?
**Interview with Janine Flock: Season Opener Success**
**Editor:** Janine, congratulations on your impressive performance in the Skeleton World Cup opener! Finishing second, just 0.08 seconds behind Amelia Coltman, must feel incredible, especially given the challenging conditions. How did you prepare for this race, particularly with the weather playing such a significant role?
**Janine Flock:** Thank you! It was a tough race, but I was really happy with how I performed. Preparing for this season has involved a lot of training under various conditions, and I think that helped me adapt. I focused on my start times and overall technique, and thankfully, those strategies paid off.
**Editor:** You mentioned using video analysis to improve for your next run. Can you elaborate on what specific aspects you’ll be focusing on?
**Janine Flock:** Absolutely! I’ll be looking at my cornering techniques and start phases. Analyzing my runs helps pinpoint where I can shave off those crucial milliseconds. Consistency is key, especially in a sport as tight as skeleton.
**Editor:** You’ve now celebrated your 37th World Cup podium place. Given your extensive experience and success, how do you stay motivated to keep pushing for more in a sport as demanding as skeleton?
**Janine Flock:** My passion for the sport keeps me going. I love the thrill of competition, and there’s always something new to learn or improve. Each season brings new challenges, and the support from my team motivates me to aim for even higher goals.
**Editor:** With a season full of potential ahead, do you think the growing competition in women’s skeleton is a positive development for the sport, or do you feel it raises the stakes to a point that could change the dynamics of the competition?
**Janine Flock:** That’s an interesting question! I think increased competition is vital for the growth of the sport. It pushes all of us to perform better and can lead to thrilling races. However, it definitely requires athletes to constantly up their game. I’d love to hear what our readers think—is competition enhancing or complicating the sport?
**Editor:** Thank you, Janine! We’ll be eager to see how you approach the next races.
**Question for Readers:** With more athletes pushing the limits in women’s skeleton, do you believe this influx of competition is a boost for the sport as a whole, or does it add unnecessary pressure on seasoned veterans like Janine Flock? Let us know your thoughts!
