Medals update: Kaillie Humphries slides to victory in first-ever women's monobob

The USA's Kaillie Humphries set a blistering time to win the first-ever woman's monobob competition.

The 36-year-old, who competed for Canada at the last three Olympic Winter Games, was in untouchable form, coming home in a time of 4:19.27. Her compatriot, Elana Meyers Taylor (4:20.81) won an impressive silver to complete a USA 1-2 at Beijing 2022.

Third place and the bronze went to Canada's Christine de Bruin in 4:21.03.

Named after the Greek work ‘mónos’ (single), monobob - in which a single competitor slides down the course in a sled - has increased female participation in Olympic bobsleigh, joining the two-woman competition. The men already have two events: four-man and two-man.

Humphries, who now adds a third Olympic gold medal to her collection after winning the two-woman competition at Vancouver 2010 and Sochi 2014, was filled with happiness, despite turning her attention to the two-woman event that begins in earnest with training on Tuesday 15 February.

“Today was a good day. I'm happy with the pushing and the driving, but there's still more that I can do. So we're going to go back now, we're going to forget about today.

"I'm very aware that anything can happen on day two. And so we need to continue to put my best foot forward straight into tomorrow."

37-year-old Meyers Taylor, who won the third Olympic silver medal of her career, was ecstatic with her performance, saying: "It feels more than gold. I'm absolutely over the moon with this medal. It is incredible to come as far as we've come...

"I wanted to cry, I wanted to scream, I wanted to laugh. All the emotions just came out."

Speaking to Olympics.com, the silver medallist, who has a one-year-old son, discussed what it's like to compete as a mother at the Games.

"Everything’s changed, I’m still breastfeeding and I gotta go pump after this!

"At the end of the day I get to hang this (medal) around my neck but he doesn’t know what it means and is just going to want to play and it’s just the most incredible thing.

"He’s the most important thing in my life. I dedicate this medal to my mum and son. My mum showed me the way and showed me what a strong woman looks like and my son shows me every single day when he gets up how to overcome obstacles and fight through things."

Third place finisher Christine de Bruin of Canada was left impressed by the bronze medal that now hangs around her neck.

"It feels awesome. It feels heavy. It's nice," she said.