Bree Walker has had an incredible run leading into the 2026 Winter Olympics, setting the tone for her bobsleigh campaign in Milan-Cortina.
Born and bred in Mount Evelyn, attending Mount Lilydale Mercy College and training at Yarra Ranges Athletics, Walker spends much of her time overseas, training and competing, calling Queensland home when back in the country.
But the former Yarra Ranges local will be one to watch in her second Winter Olympics, carving out a path to win gold.
Scoring back-to-back medals in the final monobob events of the season, Walker rounded out the World Cup competition trail as second in the world.
This is the third consecutive year that Walker has claimed the title of second in world rankings.
Concluding the season with three victories and a total of five podium finishes from seven World Cup starts, Walker garnered a silver medal at the last monobob event of the season in Altenberg, Germany.
“I am absolutely stoked to finish on the podium again in the last race of the season, and especially here in Altenberg where I have sure had some interesting races,” said the 33-year-old told the Olympic Winter Institute of Australia.
“To finish second, which then secured my second place overall, I am on top of the world. Very happy to finish the World Cup season like this, and it gives me a lot of confidence and momentum leading towards the Olympic Games.
“I definitely feel that my driving has gone to a whole new level this year. It’s been such a team effort to get me to this point.
“This season I just wanted to build momentum towards the Games, and I think we have done that. It’s been my best season so far, and I am filled with a lot of confidence and excitement heading toward Cortina.”
The race prior saw Walker gain an Australian record, becoming the first Aussie to win a gold medal on the legendary St Moritz-Celerina track in Switzerland.
Although beginning her career in athletics, talking with Star Mail in the lead-up to her 2022 Beijing Winter Olympics appearance, she said she always wanted to represent Australia in whichever sport she could.
“It wasn’t just about going to the Olympics; it was about representing Australia at the top level and showing the rest of the world what Australians can do,” she said.
“Now that I’ve been able to do that in bobsleigh, I’m really proud to represent Australia because it’s obviously not a sport that’s very common for Australians to do but I think we’re holding our own and doing the country proud.
“I hope it opens the door for other people who have ideas like I had and so they can have opportunities like I’ve had.”
In 2022, Walker came fifth, finishing 2.28 seconds behind the leader, American Kaillie Humphries, who took out the gold medal. Humphries
It was the highest bobsleigh finish Australia has ever received at an Olympic Games.
Walker will also compete in the two-woman bobsleigh with partner and brakewoman Kiara Reddingius.
Walker will be attempting to place higher and hopefully score a medal at February’s Winter Olympics.
The Olympics kick off on Friday 6 February, with Walker to start official bobsleigh training on 12 February. Heats one and two will be held on Sunday 15 February at the Cortina Sliding Centre.
