A sorrow shared is a sorrow halved, a joy shared is a joy doubled. This folk wisdom applies perfectly to Daniel Gruber (ITA) and Fabian Brunner (ITA). The two teammates grabed the gold medal at the end of the 13th FIL Luge Junior World Championships on natural track on Sunday in Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA). In the women's singles, the new Junior World Champion is Riccarda Ruetz (AUT).
Daniel Gruber was the big dominator in the Junior World Cup and was the gold favorite in the title fights on the "Tonnerboden-track" in the Wipptal luge center in Jaufental/Val di Giovo (ITA). In the first two runs, the 19-year-old led by 0.23 seconds in front of Fabian Brunner, who made a big statement with a new track record (51.75 seconds) in the second run. In the decisive third run, Brunner set the best time again, while Gruber almost crashed just before the finish. Despite this moment of shock, it was enough for the gold medal, in 2:35.75 minutes he was exactly as fast as Brunner at the finish line. The bronze medal went to another "Azzurro" with Alex Oberhofer (+0.87 seconds), so the hosts celebrated a triple victory.
Two Champions: Daniel Gruber (ITA) and Fabian Brunner (ITA)
"That almost sounds cheesy, but last night in the hotel we said jokingly that it would be cool if we could win the gold medal at the same time," said Fabian Brunner after the award ceremony. "It's so cool. Winning the world championship title in the last year at junior class – together with my buddy – that's really awesome,” Gruber said happily.
The medal decision in the women's singles was also extremely exciting. After the first two runs, local hero Katharina Hofer (ITA) was comfortably in the lead 0.67 seconds ahead. In the finale, however, Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) ignited the turbo, with a new track record (53.00 seconds) and a total time of 2:39.76 minutes she put Hofer under considerable pressure. In the decision, Hofer was not able to build on her performances from the first two runs - in the end she had to settle for the silver medal with a deficit of 0.15 seconds on Ruetz. Bronze went to Sarah Schiller (GER/+1.90 sec.).
(from left) Katharina Hofer (ITA), Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) and Sarah Schiller (GER)
“The third run was pretty much perfect – unlike the first run. I was quite a bit behind by then. It was a major effort, so this gold medal shines all the more beautifully,” explained Ruetz at the finish, while Hofer's face was full of disappointment: “That's bitter. Of course I'm happy about the silver medal, but before the finale I was probably overconfident and lost the victory."
Happy faces also on the organizing committee around OC-boss Walter Volgger: “It was three wonderful World Cup days here in the Jaufental. My team did a great job.” The President of ASV Jaufental, Manfred Siller, is happy about the new Junior World Champions: “In the three races we had winners from three different countries. Slovenia, Austria and Italy. This width is good for the sport, I hope that even more young athletes will focus on luge.”
Top three singles women, 06.02.2022
1. Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) 2:39.76 minutes
2. Katharina Hofer (ITA) +0.15 seconds
3. Sarah Schiller (GER) +1.90 seconds
Top three singles men, 06.02.2022
1. Fabian Brunner (ITA) 2:35.75 minutes
1. Daniel Gruber (ITA) +0.00 seconds
3. Alex Oberhofer (ITA) +0.87 seconds
Medal table
1. Italy 2/1/1
2. Austria 1/0/0
2. Slovenia 1/0/0
4. Russia 0/1/1
5. Germany 0/0/1
