Canadian skeleton star Mirela Rahneva retires at age 36

Canadian skeleton star Mirela Rahneva of Ottawa, Ontario has retired from competitive skeleton at age 36 according to the Canadian Press on Monday. Rahneva is best known for winning two medals at the World Bobsled and Skeleton Championships. She won a silver medal in the mixed team at the 2019 International Bobsled and Skeleton World Championships in Whistler, British Columbia, and then won a bronze medal in women’s skeleton at the 2023 International Bobsled and Skeleton World Championships in St. Moritz.

When Rahneva won the bronze medal in the mixed team event in Whistler five years ago, she won alongside skeleton rider Dave Greszczyszyn of Brampton, Ontario, and bobsledders Christine de Bruin of Edmonton, Alberta, Kristin Bujnowski of London, Ontario, Nick Poloniato of Hamilton, Ontario, and Keefer Joyce of Kelowna, British Columbia. It was the last time that skeleton athletes and bobsledders competed alongside each other on the same team in the same event at the International Bobsled and Skeleton World Championships.

Rahneva finished third in the World Cup circuit three times in her career. That happened in 2016-17, 2018-19, and 2022-23. She also won 15 World Cup medals (five gold medals, four silver medals, and six bronze medals). Rahneva’s gold medals came in St. Moritz in 2017 and 2019, Calgary in 2022, Park City in 2022, and Sigulda, Latvia in 2024.