Mapp wins Overall World Cup title
Corie Mapp won Overall World Cup gold in the Para Bobsleigh on Sunday afternoon.
Mapp took bronze in La Plagne in the last of this season’s eight races to ensure he claimed the overall title for the second time in his remarkable career.
The 45-year-old knew that a sixth-place finish in France would be enough to match his previous tittle winning campaign in 2018 and he comfortably achieved that feat as he made it six World Cup medals this season.
He clocked a combined time of 2 minutes 13.70 seconds to finish 0.26 seconds behind joint race winners Christopher Stewart and Arturs Klots and four hundredths of a second ahead of Hermann Ellmauer in fourth. Robert Balk had been Mapp’s closest rival ahead of today’s race but the reigning World Champion could only finish fifth in the final event.
A former Lance Corporal in the British Army, Mapp finished the season on 1631 points, 51 points clear of Latvian Klots in second and a further 15 ahead of American Balk in third.
“I’m really proud to be able to represent the country, do my best and win the top prize!” said Mapp.
To win the overall title means a huge amount - it shows that you can produce results week in, week out.
“I hadn’t won it for six years so I was really keen to do that this season. It was massive on my to do list and it’s an incredible feeling to have that crystal globe in my hands again.
“I’m extremely pleased with the way the whole week in La Plagne went. To win silver and bronze when I knew that two good performances would mean I’d stay at the top of the standings was pretty special.
“It’s been a tough couple of years and I’m just incredibly grateful to have been able to represent the country in the way that I have.
“Huge thanks to all my sponsors and to the BBSA (British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association). Huge thanks as well to all the other athletes and to people from all over the world who have taken the time to send me messages and to encourage me moving forward.”
Corie Mapp has won his second World Cup crown
Mapp made the podium in Lillehammer (twice), La Plagne (twice), St Moritz and Sigulda and he never finished outside the top five across the entire season.
The double amputee also won the European Championships in Lillehammer this season and he came agonisingly close to an historic hattrick when he won World Championship bronze at the same track.
Yesterday’s silver in La Plagne took his career medal tally to half a century since he first represented Great Britain in 2015.
He finished second in the Overall World Cup standings last season and now has two overall golds (2024 and 2018), three silver (2023, 2020 and 2015) and two bronze (2022 and 2019).
