Altenberg (pps) Germany’s Olympic Champion Felix Loch demonstrated that he races in a league of his own. At the 43rd Luge World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Altenberg, Germany, the 22-year-old took his third World gold medal after 2008 and 2009.
In front of 5,000 spectators at the luge and bobsled track in Altenberg Loch, who already won five of seven Viessmann Luge World Cup events this winter, set a new track record in the first run, clocking a time of 53.590 seconds. With a winning margin of 0.328 seconds after two runs, the German “series winner” defeated Russia’s Albert Demchenko to second place. The 2006 Olympic silver medalist thus earned the first World Championship medal for the Russian luge federation. In 1983 it was Sergej Danilin, the 1981 World Champion and 1984 Olympic silver medalist, who earned silver at the World Championships in Lake Placid, USA, for the former Soviet Union.
Italy’s Armin Zoeggeler (0.414 seconds behind) who claimed bronze, already earned his 10th World Championship medal after the gold medals in 1995, 1999, 2001, 2003, 2005 and 2011 as well as three silver medals in 2000, 2007 and 2009.
Germany’s lugers missed the podium spots: Johannes Ludwig, second in the World Cup in St. Moritz, finished in fourth position, Andi Langenhan, winner in Calgary and St. Moritz, took fifth place, and David Moeller, who made the rostrum in five of seven World Cup events this winter, had to settle for sixth place.
As a positive surprise came the seventh place of Canadian Sam Edney. Russia’s Evgeniy Voskresenskiy finished in ninth position behind David Mair of Italy, who claimed eighth place.
Quotes
Felix Loch
(GER / 2010 Olympic champion as well as 2008, 2009 and 2012 World Champion)
“A perfect race! Setting up the track record in the first run was fantastic. There was a tiny mistake in the second run and I bet that my father’s heart skipped a beat. Well, I thought my heart would stop beating, too... I’m still young and I hope to claim the one or other title in the future.”
Albert Demchenko (RUS / 2006 Olympic silver medalist, 2010 European Champion) “This is the first medal for Russia after almost 20 years. I’m absolutely overwhelmed. I never reckoned to win a medal.”
Armin Zoeggeler (ITA / two-time Olympic and six-time World Champion)
“I’m very pleased with the result, even though I missed claiming silver due to a mistake in the second run.”
