Written By Jeffrey Reed
M ount Brydges bobsledder Kristen Bujnowski is relatively new to piloting, but she is ready to prove herself to a world-wide audience.
Bujnowski, 33, placed fifth in two-woman sled at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics as brakewoman behind Christine de Bruin. During the past few seasons, she has honed her skills in the driver’s seat on North American and Europe Cup developmental circuits.
Now, Bujnowski is one of three Olympians who have received the nod to pilot the Canadian women’s sleds on the World Cup circuit to start the 2025-26 season. Grabbing the wheel after working the brakes in Beijing, Bujnowski begins her first full season on the World Cup stage. She joins two Olympic pilots at the 2022 Games – Cynthia Appiah of Toronto and Melissa Lotholz of Barrhead, Alta.
For Bujnowski, piloting a Canadian sled is a game changer – a move which sees her examining a leadership style that Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton believes has what it takes to take Canada to the winner’s podium.
“Leading a team gives me an opportunity to look at other people and think about what kind of teammate I want to be,” said Bujnowski as she personally challenges herself on and off the ice. “That’s been really big for me as a pilot and a leader on our team – who do I want to be?”
Bujnowski has big shoes to fill. Canada’s bobsleigh athletes boast a winning tradition for nearly six decades. It’s a tradition they plan to continue at the Olympic Winter Games Feb. 6-22 at Milano/Cortina, Italy.
In total, Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton has named 36 athletes who will fill Canadian sleds piloted by five women and five men at international competitions.
The three Canadian women’s sleds will be pushed by a pool of high-powered athletes including: Niamh Haughey (Scarborough, Ont.); Kelsey Mitchell (Sherwood Park, Alta.) – an Olympic champion in track cycling who joined the sport of bobsleigh this summer; Olympian Dawn Richardson-Wilson (Edmonton); Charlotte Ross (Ottawa), who begins her first season on the World Cup; Skylar Sieben (Cochrane, Alta.) – a World Cup medalist last season; and Eden Wilson (Calgary).
Canada’s top two men’s crews piloted by Taylor Austin (Lethbridge, Alta.) and Patrick Norton (Ottawa) will have a crew of seven brakemen with them on the World Cup.
“Canada’s National Bobsleigh Program is powered by our experienced leaders, fueled by the drive our newcomers bring to the sport and driven by the diversity that defines us as being truly Canadian with athletes selected to the program from all corners of the country,” said Bobsleigh Canada Skeleton high performance director Jesse Lumsden.
As the North American Cup circuit launches, Bujnowski hopes to shine in preparation for the Milano/Cortina Games. Winning Olympic Gold is her ultimate goal as she continues to ask herself, “Who do I want to be?”
Award-winning writer
Jeffrey Reed has covered Middlesex County sports since 1980. He is publisher and editor of LondonOntarioSports.com. Reach him at
jeff@londonontariosports.com.
