In Lake Placid, New York, an incredible transformation has taken place in the world of bobsledding. Just two years ago, Kaysha Love was navigating the challenges of minor bobsled races, typically landing near the bottom of the results. Fast forward to today, and she has earned the title of world monobob champion.
Love’s journey to prominence reached a pinnacle as she clinched the victory in the women’s monobob event, where a single person pilots the sled, during the world championship race at Mount Van Hoevenberg. This achievement marked the second gold medal for USA Bobsled and Skeleton at the world championships, following a win in the mixed team skeleton race.
Overwhelmed with emotion, Love wrapped herself in the U.S. flag, still processing her victory. “Oh my gosh,” she exclaimed, marveling at the reality she had yet to fully grasp. Her cumulative four-run time, achieved over two days, was 3 minutes and 57.82 seconds. Close behind was Germany’s Laura Nolte, the reigning monobob champion for two consecutive years, timing in at 3:58.26, followed by Elana Meyers Taylor from the U.S. at 3:58.31.
The competition for second and third was intense, but when it came to the top spot, Love delivered a commanding performance with a decisive run of 59.34 seconds, the best in the field during Sunday’s critical stage. Reflecting on the experience, she admitted, “I’m not going to lie and say I didn’t get in my head,” yet expressed immense pride at competing among such elite company. “Being in the mix with these girls just made me kind of be at peace. Win, second, third or last, I’m here competing with the best in the world,” she said.
Love’s world championship title places her among a distinguished group of American bobsled pilots, including Stanley Benham and Steven Holcomb. At 27, Love, a former UNLV sprinter, had once aspired to be an Olympic gymnast before shifting her focus to track and eventually, bobsledding. Her bobsled career began as a push athlete at the Olympics three years ago, and she now stands as a strong candidate for the upcoming Milan-Cortina Games.
Winning gold on Sunday was Love’s second world championship accolade, complementing a bronze from pushing Kaillie Humphries’ two-woman sled two years prior in St. Moritz. Transitioning from the back to the front, Love embraced the challenge of learning to drive the sled. Initially, her performance was disheartening, but she found motivation from Shauna Rohbock, a former Olympian and coach, who assured her she had what it took to succeed.
Love’s perseverance paid off when, after a tough developmental season, she began winning lower-level races. Within months, she made her debut on the World Cup circuit, unexpectedly securing a victory in her first monobob race. Only 15 months later, Love not only claimed the world champion title but also emerged as a viable Olympic hopeful for forthcoming competitions in either the Italian Alps or a potential return to Lake Placid.
Having entered the final run with a lead of 0.17 seconds over Nolte, Love executed her finest performance to secure her championship win. “I don’t even have the words to describe what this means,” Love expressed, capturing the magnitude of her achievement.
