A dash of Olympic spirit at the Junior World Championships in Altenberg

Altenberg (RWH) The 33rd edition of the Junior World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) will feature a dash of Olympic spirit this year. When 147 athletes from 22 nations compete for the title in 124 sleds on the taxing artificial ice track in Altenberg (GER) this coming weekend, their number will include two Olympians in Ivan Nagler and Fabian Malleier.

With just two weeks to go until the doubles medals are awarded at the Winter Games in PyeongChang (KOR) on 14 February 2018, the South Tyrolean pairing, who already have World Cup experience, have their sights set on claiming the junior title in the Eastern Ore Mountains. The duo head to Altenberg with three Junior World Cup wins along with one sixth (Altenberg) and one seventh-place finish (Königssee) in the Viessmann World Cup to their names. The defending women’s champion, local hero Jessica Tiebel, also has some World Cup experience under her belt. The 19-year-old luger finished an impressive third on her Viessmann World Cup debut in Königssee.

In the men’s event, defending champion Kristers Aparjods from Latvia has made the tough decision not to compete in the Junior Championships in order to avoid missing out on training for the PyeongChang Olympics. As a result, Max Langenhan (GER) now assumes the role of favourite. Last year’s Junior World Championship bronze medallist won every Junior World Cup this season to take a commanding victory in the overall standings.