Photo credit: Getty Images

IGLS, Austria (Feb. 19, 2020)– John Daly (Smithtown, N.Y.) competed in the men’s skeleton European Cup in Igls today to complete the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation’s 5-3-2 rule, so he is now eligible to race the World Cup circuit next season. He finished 12th.

“I’m really happy with the way I slid,” Daly said. “We tested some new equipment, and checked the final box for next season.”

Daly came out of a near three-year retirement this fall to win national team selection races. The 5-3-2 rule requires athletes to compete in five races on at least three tracks over the course of two seasons to be eligible to race in the World Cup series. Since he last raced internationally at the 2018 PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games, Daly did not meet the international federation’s criteria. Although he was named USA-1, he raced in the Park City, Utah and Lake Placid, N.Y. North American Cup races. He won all five competitions. The Igls European Cup was the final competition needed to meet qualification.

Daly met up with skeleton head coach Tuffy Latour in Austria to check off the final race for eligibility. His sled was shipped to Park City for the upcoming 2021-2022 national team selection races, so he competed on a new sled for the race.

Daly posted identical start times of 5.09 seconds in both heats for runs of 53.10 and 53.05 seconds. He finished 12th with a combined time of 1:46.15.

“I’m really thankful that Tuffy and I figured out the track together this week,” Daly said. “The time wasn’t there since we were testing a new sled in Igls. I’m really happy with the progress, and I’m looking forward to testing and getting faster in Park City.”

Evgeniy Rukosuev from Bobsled Federation Russia was victorious with a two-run total of 1:44.93. Amedeo Bagnis claimed the silver medal for Italy with a combined time of 1:44.96, and Austria’s Alexander Schlintner earned bronze with an aggregate time of 1:45.07.

Please contact USABS Marketing & Communications Director Amanda Bird at 518-354-2250, or amanda.bird@usabs.com, with media inquiries.

Results

1. Evgeniy Rukosuev (BFR) 1:44.93 (52.43, 52.50);

2. Amedeo Bagnis (ITA) 1:44.96 (52.58, 52.38);

3. Alexander Schlintner (AUT) 1:45.07 (52.41, 52.66);

12. John Daly (USA) 1:46.15 (53.10, 53.05);

About USA Bobsled & Skeleton

USA Bobsled & Skeleton (USABS), based in Lake Placid, N.Y., is the national governing body for the sports of bobsled and skeleton in the United States. For more information, please visit the USABS website at www.usabs.com.

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Daly completes international federation rule for World Cup eligibility

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