'Doing it for the mamas': Elisabeth Maier finishes 7th in skeleton World Cup return

Calgary's Elisabeth Maier slide into seventh in her first race back following a one-year maternity leave at a skeleton World Cup event on Friday, in Innsbruck, Austria. 

From the start, Maier showed little rust—coming within a few-hundreds of a second to equalling her all-time best. 

However, heavy snows forced organizers to wipe out the first-heat results entirely and base the 20-competitor event solely on the second-run.

Shaking off any early jitters, Maier, who was sixth after the first run, once again fearlessly blasted down the track, securing seventh with a time of 54.52 seconds. 

WATCH | Calgary's Elisabeth Maier makes pregnancy 'comeback' in Innsbruck:

Canada's Maier finishes 7th in her return to Skeleton World Cup action

4 years ago

Duration 2:04

Calgary's Elisabeth Maier returned to the World Cup Skeleton tour after recently becoming a mother and recorded a one run time of 54:52, good for 7th place at Innsbruck, Austria.

"What a race designed for 2020," said Maier after the event. "I am so thankful to be racing again though because this time last year I didn't know if I would ever race again. To be on the start line was very exciting to be back and doing it for mamas."

Maier, 26, has racked up 10 World Cup medals in her career. Eager to improve upon her ninth place finish in Pyeongchang, Maier will be back on the start line in Austria next week.

Russia's Elena Nikitina slid to the top of the podium with a time of 53.74. Kimberley Bos, of The Netherlands, was second at 54.02. Germany's Tina Hermann rounded out the podium in third place at 54.19.

WATCH | Russia's Elena Nikitina takes skeleton World Cup shootout:

Russia's Nikitina wins World Cup Skeleton event

4 years ago

Duration 1:46

Russian Elena Nikitina took the win at the one run skeleton World Cup shootout Friday at Innsbruck, Austria crossing the line with a time of 53:74.

"These girls are good – the best in the world. I'm honoured to be back competing with them but I am hungry for so much more," said Maier who along with her husband (bobsleigh athlete Ben Maier) lives in Austria with her young family. 

Meanwhile, Virgin Islands racer Katie Tannenbaum came across an unexpected obstacle during her run — a broom.

The broom, appearing to belong to a worker on the course, was laying on the ice as Tannenbaum came around a corner. Though Tannenbaum was slowed some, she mostly plowed right through to the finish line.

She finished in last place with a time of 56.24 seconds.

WATCH | Tannenbaum strikes a worker's broom:

Katie Tannenbaum slides into broom on track

4 years ago

Duration 2:12

Virgin Islands skeleton athlete Katie Tannenbaum struck a broom that was left on the track Friday at the IBSF World Cup in Innsbruck, Austria.