Canadian Justin Kripps takes bronze in 4-man bobsled world championship

WHISTLER, B.C. — Germany’s Francesco Friedrich completed his season sweep of bobsled championships by winning the four-man world title Saturday night, while Justin Kripps drove to a bronze-medal finish to become just the third Canadian to reach the podium in both the two- and four-man event at the same world championship. 

Friedrich was the World Cup champion in two-man and four-man this season, plus won the two-man world title last weekend. He’s the first driver to claim all four championships in the same season since Germany’s Andre Lange did it in 2007-08.

Friedrich finished four runs in three minutes 21.33 seconds. Latvia’s Oskars Kibermanis — the leader after Friday’s first two runs, before Friedrich overtook him Saturday — was second in 3:21.62.

Kripps of Summerland, B.C., finished in 3:21.78.

“It is amazing. I was happy to get the two-man medal, but it is even sweeter in the four-man,” said Kripps. “I’m so happy to be able to spread the love around. These four-man guys have such a huge impact on the two-man results so to reward them with this is massive.”

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It is the first time in 12 years that a Canadian crew has reached the four-man podium at the worlds.

Kripps and Cam Stones of Whitby, Ont., captured the silver in two-man bobsled last weekend and were attempting to conquer the four-man race with teammates Ryan Sommer of White Rock, B.C., and Saskatoon’s Ben Coakwell.

“We talk about working together as a team every day in our group. There is no all-star on this team… we are just a bunch of guys doing it for each other,” said Coakwell.

Pierre Lueders and Vic Emery are the only other Canadian pilots to accomplish the rare feat.

Lueders won two-man gold and bronze in the four-man the last time Canada hosted the world championships in 2005 at the Olympic Track in Calgary. 

Emery was the first Canadian to slide onto the world championship podium in both races, winning four-man gold and two-man bronze at the 1965 worlds.

“It’s awesome to start to get that consistent success and to be able to double at a major event like this is massive,” said Kripps. “Just having my name mentioned along the likes of Lueders and Emery is such an honour.”

The 32-year-old Kripps tied for gold in the two-man event at the Pyeongchang Olympics last year alongside Friedrich.

The Canadian Press