2nd "Sepp Benz Memorial" Race in Sankt Moritz

Sankt Moritz (FIL) On Saturday, March 5, 2022, the Olympic Bobrun St. Moritz-Celerina hosted the international "Sepp Benz Memorial" Race in luge for the second time to conclude the winter season.

Luge athletes from the national teams of Latvia, Italy, Germany, Romania and Switzerland took part in the Memorial Race in honour of the Swiss Olympic Bobsleigh Champion and sports official Sepp Benz. Benz had had a decisive influence on the sport of luge. For many years, he was the chairman of the Sport Commission and a member of the FIL Executive Board and died of Covid-19 in Zurich on 5 February 2021.

At the "Sepp Benz Memorial", the athletes themselves could choose whether they wanted to start from the top start or further down from the "Montis Bolt".

In the category "Women from Montis Bolt" there was a double victory for Latvia. Kendija Aparjode won against her teammate Sigita Berzina (+0.206 seconds). Bronze went to Marion Oberhofer from Italy (+0.928).
In the category "doubles of Montis Bolt" there was also a Latvian victory. The brothers Andris and Juris Sics were the fastest after two runs. Second place went to the Italians Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner (+0.533 seconds) and third place went to the Germans Hannes Orlamünder and Paul Gubitz (+0.704).

From the top start of the Swiss natural track, Olympic silver medallist Anna Berreiter (GER) won ahead of Switzerland's Natalie Maag (+0.316 seconds) and junior world champion Jessica Degenhardt (GER/+0.479) in the women's event.
Max Langenhan (GER) was the fastest in the men's race, ahead of Gints Berzinz (LAT/+0.087 seconds) and Leon Felderer (ITA/0.282). Micha Rappel, the Swiss junior, crashed in the first run and could not complete the second run.

FIL President Einars Fogelis was pleased: "The teams were able to train the whole week here in Switzerland. The final race in honour of Sepp Benz was a great event and should become a tradition in the coming years. For us, this is a very emotional race. We think back very fondly to our sports friend Sepp Benz, to whom the sport of luge owes a lot".