PyeongChang Olympic Berths up for grabs in Lake Placid

Lake Placid

 Lake Placid (RWH) The time for predictions and mathematical permutations is over. The Viessmann World Cup and BMW Sprint World Cup on Friday 15 and Saturday 16 December 2017 in Lake Placid, NY, mark the end of the International Luge Federation’s qualifying process for the Winter Olympics in PyeongChang, Korea, from 9 to 25 February 2018.

However, feedback from the respective national associations is required before the full list of 130 participants can be published. In some countries, meeting the international association’s qualifying criteria is not synonymous with an Olympic nod – national barriers are often much higher than their international equivalents.

It is not only the FIL’s qualifying process that will draw to a close in Lake Placid, which has previously hosted two Winter Olympics (1932 and 1980). Some national associations will be completing their nominations too – leading contender Germany, and the USA, to name just two examples. The complexity of the situation is clearly illustrated by the US women’s squad.

Olympic bronze Medalist Erin Hamlin and World Cup Medalist Summer Britcher both have guaranteed places in PyeongChang. Rachel Germaine and Emily Sweeney are currently battling for the third spot, with Sweeney the present favorite. Germaine, who finished 16th at the 2017 World Championships, will only qualify to compete in Korea if she can manage a top five finish this weekend and Sweeney misses out. In that scenario, Emily Sweeney, winner of the non-Olympic BMW Sprint World Cup in Winterberg, which is not part of the USA’s qualifying series, would not travel to Korea.

Amongst the German men, three well-known lugers are vying for two Olympic spots. Andi Langenhan, Olympic fourth-place finisher, Ralf Palik, World Championship runner-up in 2016, and Johannes Ludwig, the best-placed German at the 2017 World Championships in fourth place, are all virtually neck and neck behind the two-time defending Olympic Champion Felix Loch, who has already qualified.  “It’s going to be a real showdown,” is the verdict of team relay World Champion Ludwig. Especially given that the serpentine ice track on Mount Van Hoevenberg is not one of the protagonists’ preferred tracks. Last year, Palik finished 7th, Ludwig 9th, and Langenhan came home in 20th.

The German leaders of the Viessmann World Cup are not at risk of losing their yellow jerseys before the Christmas break as they all have a comfortable points cushion. Natalie Geisenberger leads the standings in the women’s event, while Felix Loch currently tops the men’s rankings, having rediscovered his form. The doubles pairing of Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken remain in a class of their own this year.