World Champ Humphries taking charge
Kaillie Humphries has raised the bar, and this world champion is just getting started.
“I want to be on top for a while,” said the 2010 Olympic gold medallist after returning from Lake Placid, N.Y. this past weekend with a Bobsleigh World Championship trophy in her bag. “I feel like I have so much more to go.”
The Calgary native said it was nice to see her hard work pay off after claiming Canada’s first-ever women’s gold at the World Championships, but the 26-year-old is not shy about her desire for more.
“This (championship) shows the rest of the world that we are a force to be reckoned with,” said Humphries. “Not just during an Olympic year, if we have all the right stuff in place, we can do it all the time.”
The fact Humphries is keeping her foot firmly on the gas is encouraging for Canada, a nation still basking in the success it had in Vancouver and eager to see if it can be repeated.
Humphries’ three gold medals, a silver and team bronze on the World Cup circuit this season will surely put any questions to rest. In addition to this World Championship gold with brakeman Jennifer Ciochetti, of Edmonton, and team bronze, it’s safe to say the future is shaping up to be consistently fast.
“This shows we’re on the right path and we’re doing the right things. It’s working,” said Humphries. “This is confirmation (to any Olympic athlete) that the hard work will pay off. The stuff they’re doing will pay off. I’m an example of that.”
Humphries started on her path of Bobsleigh competition at age 17. Nine years later, she has 15 World Cup medals, an Olympic gold medal and a World Championship title. This kind of resume is not just an example of hard work, it is undeniable proof that Canadian athletes can define themselves as the absolute best.
With this attitude, Humphries says, world-beating success can be expected.
“When the pressure is on (in Sochi) this can be normal,” she said. “We deserve this and we’re going to keep going with it … there is so much we can learn from each other.”
