Noelle

Pikus-Pace

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Noelle Pikus-Pace's strength and speed has led her to become one of the best skeleton sliders in the world since beginning the sport in 2001.  Pikus-Pace suffered a compound fracture of her lower right leg as a result of a freak accident when she was struck by a bobsled, causing her to miss the first half of the 2005-2006 season.  Showing her true competitiveness and determination, Pikus-Pace recovered and had the best season of her skeleton career in 2006-2007, claiming the World Championship title in St. Moritz and finishing second overall in World Cup standings, just behind teammate Katie Uhlaender.  

Pikus-Pace took a break from the sport during the 2007-2008 season to have her first child, Lacee Lynne Pace, but returned to the sport in top form again.  She raced to fourth place at the 2010 Vancouver Games and announced her retirement after the final run.  Just a year after having her son, Traycen, Pikus-Pace and her husband, Janson, decided she'd make a comeback and aim for a medal at the 2014 Sochi Games.  Pikus-Pace swept the national team selection races series to earn her position back on the team.

Pikus-Pace is the youngest of eight children.  She graduated from Utah Valley State College in 2005 with a bachelor's degree in Community Health and Physical Education and received a master's degree in Business Administration from Colorado Technical University in 2008.  Pikus-Pace participated as a track and field athlete while at college, where she broke the Utah Valley University high jump record and was named first team All-American.  Pikus-Pace also won the 2005 NJCAA National discuss championships.  After graduating she assisted in coaching Track and Field at Utah Valley State College.  

Olympic Experience

• 2-time Olympian; 1-time Olympic medalist (1 silver)
• Olympic Games Sochi 2014, silver (Individual - Women)
• Olympic Games Vancouver 2010, 4th (Individual - Women)

Career Highlights

• 2013-2014 World Cup  
  - DSQ in Calgary (11/13), GOLD in Park City (12/13), GOLD in Lake Placid #1 (12/13), BRONZE in Lake Placid #2 (12/13), SILVER in Winterberg (1/14), GOLD in St. Moritz (1/13), SILVER in Igls (1/14), GOLD in St. Moritz (1/11), SILVER in Igls (1/17), GOLD in Koenigssee (1/24)
  
• 2012-2013 World Cup
  -6th in Whistler (11/12), BRONZE in Winterberg (12/12), 4th Team Event in Winterberg (12/12), BRONZE in Altenberg (1/13), GOLD in Konigssee (1/13), SILVER in Igls (1/13), GOLD Team Event at World Championships in St. Moritz (1/13), SILVER at World Championships in St. Moritz (1/13), GOLD in Sochi (2/13)
• 2012-2013 Intercontinental Cup
  -SILVER in Whistler #1 (11/12), GOLD in Whistler #2 (11/12)
• 2012-2013 North American Cup
  -GOLD in Park City #1 (11/12), GOLD in Park City #2 (11/12), 4th in Calgary #1 (11/12), SILVER in Calgary #2 (11/12)
• 5th overall in 2009-2010 World Cup
  -13th in Park City (11/09), 5th in Lake Placid (11/09), 6th in Cesana (12/09), 8th in Winterberg (12/09), 9th in Altenberg (12/09), 6th in Konigssee (1/10), 8th in St. Moritz (1/10), 5th in Igls (1/10)
• 8th overall in 2008-2009 World Cup
  -5th in Winterberg (11/28), 9th in Altenberg (12/5), 14th in Igls (12/12), 9th in Konigssee (1/9), 5th in St. Moritz (1/16), 14th in Whistler (2/6), BRONZE in Park City (2/11), 9th in Park City (2/12)      
• 2nd overall in 2006-2007 World Cup
  -BRONZE in Calgary (11/06), 6th in Park City (12/06), SILVER in Lake Placid (12/06), 6th in Nagano (01/07), 4th in Igls (01/07), BRONZE in Cesana Pariol (02/07), BRONZE in Winterberg (02/07), BRONZE in Königssee (02/07)
• 1st at World Championships  in St. Moritz, Switzerland (01/07)
  -First U.S. woman ever to claim World Champion title in skeleton and did so by the largest margin in women’s skeleton history
• 17th overall in 2005-2006 World Cup
  -20th in Igls (12/05), 8th in Sigulda (12/05), 5th in Königssee (01/06), 11th in St.Moritz (01/06)
• 2005 World Cup Champion (first U.S. female skeleton athlete to accomplish the overall title)-GOLD in Winterberg (11/04), 9th in Altenberg (12/04), GOLD in Igls (12/04), GOLD in Sigulda (12/04), 9th in Cesana Pariol (01/05), SILVER in St. Moritz (01/05), BRONZE in Lake Placid (02/05)
• SILVER at World Championships (02/05) in Calgary, Canada
• 14th overall in the 2003-2004 World Cup
  -11th in Calgary (11/03), 11th in Lake Placid (12/03), 12th in Lillehammer (01/04), 21st in Sigulda (02/04), 15th in Altenberg (02/04)
• 19th overall in the 2002-2003 World Cup
  -15th in Igls (01/03), 11th in St. Moritz, (01/03), 9th in Altenberg (02/03)
•  3rd overall in the 2001-2002 America’s Cup
  -BRONZE and BRONZE in Lake Placid (12/01), 7th in Calgary (11/01)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2013 – gold (Team Competition - Mixed), silver (Individual - Women)
• Years of participation: Individual - Women 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013; Team Competition - Mixed 2007, 2009, 2013
• Medals: 5 (2 gold, 3 silver)
• Gold – 2013 (Team Competition - Mixed); 2007 (Individual - Women)
• Silver – 2013 (Individual - Women); 2007 (Team Competition - Mixed); 2005 (Individual - Women)