Kaillie Humphries pilots Canada to gold at historic 4-woman bobsleigh test event

Kaillie Humphries made history. Again.

After leading a public charge for a four-woman's bobsleigh event, the Calgary-native saw her efforts come to life at this weekend's world championship where she led Canada to victory in the first ever four-woman test race.

"Every athlete wants to have a legacy and this is something I believe strongly in," said Humphries.

"This is the first step that will help bridge the gap between having another event for women in our sport, but more importantly be huge in growing our sport for women, and developing my skills as a pilot."

Canadians win gold, silver

With four teams competing over two heats, Humphries and her team of Cynthia Appiah, Kasha Lee, and Melissa Lotholz finished 0.76 ahead of Alysia Rissling of Canada, 0.83 ahead of Maria Adela Constantin of Romania, and 1.13 ahead of Elana Meyers Taylor of the United States.

Canada's Alysia Rissling (Calgary), Janine McCue (Cochrane, Alta.), Julia Corrente (Chatham, Ont.) and Christine DeBruin (Calgary) raced a time of 1:48.11, winning them the silver medal.

Humphries has been racing four-woman crews against men's teams for the last half of the World Cup season to prepare for this event. Rissling has also piloted a woman's sled in four-man races. 

Canadians leading the charge

The four-woman test event is the latest made by the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation to create more racing opportunities for women on an elite stage.

Women's bobsleigh was introduced as an Olympic sport in 2002 as a two-person event, while men raced in both two and four-man races.

In 2014, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation officially allowed mixed-gender and women's teams to compete in four-man races. Humphries, alongside American Elena Meyers Taylor, made history that year when they competed with and against men in four-man races.

"This is something I have been very passionate about happening over the last two years," Humphries said at the time. 

"We live in an age now where it has become more and more acceptable in many sports to have women compete with the men.

"Not every woman will want to accept the challenge, and the same will be said for the guys, but I'm personally one that has always pushed the limits and I am very fortunate enough to have the athletic ability and support of many people and groups to take on the challenge and see what is possible."