The hosts set the tone at the FIL Luge Junior World Championships on Natural Track in St. Sebastian (AUT). Two of the three possible gold medals went to Austria at the home World Championships from January 31st to February 2nd.

Right at the start of the title fights, the Austrians celebrated a one-two. In the doubles Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer (AUT) took the gold medal in 2.32.72 minutes, ahead of their teammates Maximilian Pichler/Matthias Pichler (AUT), who were still in the lead after the first run. Bronze medal for Bine Mekina/Blaz Mekina from Slovenia.

World Champions Lisa Walch (l.) and Fabian Achenrainer

In the women's single the overall Junior World Cup winner Lisa Walch (GER) and local hero Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) showed an exciting head-to-head fight. In the first run Walch took the lead, in the second run Ruetz stroke back and took the lead. In the decisive third run (World Championships are in three runs in singles, editor's note), Walch caught her competitor and took the gold medal in 3.42.95 minutes, just 0.22 seconds ahead of Ruetz. Bronze for her teammate Vanessa Markt (+0.51).

Podium women's single: (from left) Ruetz, Walch, Markt

Another gold medal for Austria was in the men's singles. 24 hours after Fabian Achenrainer fixed the gold medal in doubles he won the title in singles, 0.71 seconds ahead of overall winner in the Junior World Cup Daniel Gruber (ITA) and bronze medalist Fabian Brunner (ITA).

Podiums at the FIL Luge Junior World Championships on Natural Track 2020:

Women’s single
1.    Lisa Walch (GER) 3.42.95 minutes
2.    Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) +0.22 seconds
3.    Vanessa Markt (AUT) +0.51

Men’s single
1.    Fabian Achenrainer (AUT) 3.39.01 minutes
2.    Daniel Gruber (ITA) +0.71 seconds
3.    Fabian Brunner (ITA) +1.51 seconds

Doubles
1.    Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer (AUT) 2.32.72 minutes
2.    Maximilian Pichler/Matthias Pichler (AUT) +0.53 seconds
3.    Bine Mekina/Blaz Mekina (SLO) +3.94