39th Viessmann World Cup victory for Natalie Geisenberger

Innsbruck-Igls (RWH): Olympic Champion Natalie Geisenberger has secured a fitting start to the Olympic season. Around 90 days ahead of the season’s highlight – the Winter Olympic Games in the Korean city of PyeongChang – the three-time World Champion celebrated the 39th race win of her career at the opening event of the Viessmann World Cup, which took place on the Olympic ice track in Innsbruck Igls. The 29-year-old German athlete, who left the International Luge Federation’s 47th World Championships empty handed, pushed her two team mates Dajana Eitberger and World Champion Tatjana Hüfner into second and third place. After botching their first runs – finishing fifth and eighth respectively – both Eitberger and Hüfner managed to significantly improve their performance on their second runs.

The World Championship runner-up and Olympic bronze medallist Erin Hamlin of the USA was in second place after her first run but then made an error during the start of her second run, pushing her all the way back into 21st.

Nina Zöggeler (ITA), the 16-year-old daughter of record-holding World Champion Armin Zöggeler, finished in 15th on her debut at the Viessmann World Cup. Hannah Prock (AUT), the 17-year-old daughter of Austria’s luging legend Markus Prock, finished in 22nd.

Quotes

Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2014 Olympic Champion, three-time World Champion):

“The first World Cup weekend of the season is always interesting and exciting. Of course, it’s always great when it ends with a win.”

Dajana Eitberger (GER / 2015 European Champion):

“Knowing what I could have achieved if I had had a better first run makes me feel less worried about the races ahead.”

Tatjana Hüfner (GER / Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion):

“Of course, the gap of just three thousandths of a second to second place is really annoying. Eighth place after the first run was pretty average but the ending made it worth while.”