44th World Cup victory for Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger

Innsbruck-Igls (RWH): Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger has started the new season exactly the same way she ended the last one: Around eight months after securing Olympic gold at the Winter Games in PyeongChang (KOR), the German athlete (30) has now won the season opener of the Viessmann World Cup in Innsbruck-Igls. Marking the 44th victory of her career, the six-time overall winner of the Viessmann World Cup finished ahead of her team-mates Julia Taubitz, the 2016 Junior World Champion, and record-breaking World Champion Tatjana Hüfner, who finished second and third respectively.

On her second run, Julia Taubitz – who finished in eighth when the International Luge Federation’s (FIL) World Championships were held at the Austrian track two years ago – managed to break Natalie Geisenberger’s two-year-old track record (39.822 seconds) with a time of 39.745 seconds.

Quotes

Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2014 and 2018 Olympic Champion):

“I think it is great that the German women are performing so well at the moment. We have a strong women's team and we all push each other to do our best.”

Julia Taubitz (GER / 2016 Junior World Champion)

“I really didn’t expect to do that at all. I think that it’s the combination of all the factors that is making the difference in my performance. I’m training in Oberhof now and their training approach just fits. The coaches are giving me great support, even when it comes to the equipment. Now all I have to do is step things up a notch in terms of weight. It hasn’t quite come together yet.”

Tatjana Hüfner (GER, 2010 Olympic Champion and record-breaking World Champion) 

“That was a pretty wobbly start to the season, especially on the first run. The second run ended up alright. I am just happy that things went a little better for me at the two World Championships I have competed in on this track. After all, I did end up taking home two golds.”