SAINT MORITZ — Another year, another world skeleton championship for Canada's Hallie Clarke.
Last February, Clarke, of Brighton, Ont., became the youngest competitor to win the senior championship, doing so in Winterberg, Germany at the age of 19. On Saturday, Clarke won the world junior title to earn the distinction of being the first athlete ever to capture both global crowns.
"My goal for this (Olympic) quadrennial was to be a junior champion, but to have both the junior and senior titles is extra special," she said. "There are no words to describe what I’m feeling.
"It's a little funny that I was able to get both titles backwards by winning the senior first, but I learned so much from world championships last year."
Clarke is one of only five Canadians _ two women _ to have won a senior world title.
"My approach into this race was so different," she said. "There was a lot more confidence in my approach, not because of where I was or who I was racing against, but because of that experience in Winterberg last year."
Clarke dominated the field, posting the fastest times in both heats for a combine mark of two minutes 19.46 seconds on the world's only non-refrigerated track.
"I think racing the World Cup here last week helped me a lot today," she said. "The extra time sliding on the track allowed me the time to really dial things in."
What's more, Clarke was able to win the event with her parents in attendance.
"Sliding in St. Moritz is magical," she said. "It is like no other track in the world.
"Even when you have a bad run, the view is still so beautiful, and the track so smooth. I had a challenging first half of the season off the track, but I found my love of sliding again and joy in it here. That’s what I channelled last year and I found that feeling again this week. This gives me a lot of confidence heading into the final World Cup races and (senior) world championships.
Switzerland’s Sara Schmied was second (2:20.34) while Belgian Aline Pelckmans took third (2:20.40).
Calgary's Josip Brusic was the top Canadian in the men's event, finishing 18th.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2025.
The Canadian Press