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BOBSLEIGH

Heartbreak for Werner as Olympics hope dashed

By AJN STAFF February 4, 2022, 10:00 am Edit
Ashleigh Werner (front) competing for Australia in bobsleigh during the recent World Cup Series in Europe.
Ashleigh Werner (front) competing for Australia in bobsleigh during the recent World Cup Series in Europe.

DESPITE posting several PBs and making her World Cup Series debut in two-woman bobsleigh and women’s monobob across Europe in recent months, Jewish athlete Ashleigh Werner is understandably feeling “incredibly shattered” at missing selection for Australia’s Winter Olympics team, announced last week.

The 29-year-old Sydneysider was in an Australian women’s squad of four in the series, piloting one of two sleds, and also competing in monobob.

But Australia only qualified one sled for Beijing, to be pushed by Kiara Reddingius and Bree Walker – the latter also qualifying in monobob.

Series highlights for Werner included a PB with brake Tia-Clair Toomey when coming 12th of 18 teams in round 6 in Latvia, a PB in monobob, coming sixth of 15, and achieving a world ranking of 20th.

Unfortunately, Werner caught COVID before the crucial last round, ruling her out.

In a touching Instagram post on January 28, Werner thanked “everyone that has supported me through this journey so far”, adding, “I am so proud of what we achieved [this season].

“Every time, I have come through stronger … It is incredibly difficult to swallow now, but I will persevere.

“It’s not about how many times you get knocked down, it’s how many times you get back up.”

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