The pressure was on for the two Canadian crews as the women’s bobsleigh got under way in Whistler on Day 12.
Pilots had to navigate 16 corners and cope with a 126-metre drop from the start to the finish at the Whistler Sliding Centre. The gold medal was won by a huge 0.85 seconds by Canada 1, driven by Kaillie Humphries, who went to Turin in 2006 as a brakeman but was not asked to push in competition, the disappointment inspiring her to switch subsequently to the front seat. Canada 2 won silver, with USA 2 earning bronze.
For once, Germany was edged out of the medals in sliding sports at Vancouver 2010, the defending Olympic champions, piloted by Sandra Kiriasis, beaten into fourth place.