Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – – Melanie Hasler of Switzerland finished fifth in the women’s monobob competition at the Olympic Sliding Centre today, narrowly missing a podium finish. The European champion, who was fourth after the initial heats, was unable to maintain her position in the final run.
The gold medal went to Elana Meyers Taylor of the United States, who edged out Germany’s Laura Nolte by a mere four hundredths of a second after the final heat. Kailie Armbruster Humphries, also representing the United States, secured the bronze medal.
Hasler concluded the four heats with a deficit of 1.06 seconds behind Meyers Taylor. While her third run on Monday evening proved challenging, she ultimately posted the fastest run time of the entire competition in her final attempt, demonstrating her potential but ultimately falling short of a medal.
“The best run time at the end was strong, but overall a little more than fifth place would have been possible,” a somewhat disappointed Hasler reportedly said, according to Swiss news agency SDA.
The result marks a slight regression for Hasler, who finished seventh in the two-woman bobsleigh event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. She had entered the competition as a strong contender, having secured the European Championship title in the monobob earlier this year in St. Moritz.
Debora Annen, the second Swiss competitor in the event, finished 11th in her Olympic debut. After a slower start, placing 14th after the first two runs, Annen improved her position with consistent performances in the subsequent heats.
The Swiss team will have another opportunity to claim a medal in the two-woman bobsleigh event. Melanie Hasler will team up with Nadja Pasternack, while Debora Annen will compete alongside Salomé Kora, who notably also competed in the 4x100m relay at the Tokyo Summer Olympics, becoming the first Swiss athlete to participate in both the Summer and Winter Games.
The monobob competition, a relatively new addition to the Winter Olympic program, debuted in Beijing in 2022. It features a single-person bobsleigh, demanding both athletic prowess and precise piloting skills. The event has quickly gained popularity, showcasing the individual talent of female bobsleigh athletes.
Laura Nolte, the 2025 European Monobob Champion, finished just off the podium in fourth place. The German athlete had been considered a favorite heading into the competition, but ultimately couldn’t overcome Meyers Taylor’s strong final run.
The competition highlighted the growing strength of the American bobsleigh program, with Meyers Taylor and Armbruster Humphries securing the top two spots on the podium. The United States has consistently been a dominant force in bobsleigh, and this result further solidifies their position as a leading nation in the sport.
Hasler’s fifth-place finish underscores the highly competitive nature of the monobob event. The margins between success and disappointment are incredibly small, and even the slightest mistake can be the difference between a medal and finishing off the podium. Her strong final run suggests she has the potential to contend for a medal in future competitions.
Looking ahead, the two-woman bobsleigh event promises to be another exciting competition, with both Hasler/Pasternack and Annen/Kora hoping to capitalize on their experience and secure a coveted Olympic medal for Switzerland. The presence of Salomé Kora, a multi-sport athlete, adds an intriguing dynamic to the Swiss team’s prospects.
The IBSF World Cup standings, as of January 10, 2026, showed Laura Nolte leading the overall rankings, followed by Bree Walker of Australia and Lisa Buckwitz of Germany. However, the Olympic competition represents a separate and distinct event, where individual performances on the day are paramount.
