Birthday treat for Olympic Champion Natalie Geisenberger

Oberhof (RWH) Natalie Geisenberger took victory by just one thousandth of a second to give herself the best possible present on her 29th birthday. The Olympic Champion set a new track record of 41.101 seconds on her second run to relegate Tatjana Hüfner to second place at the seventh Viessmann World Cup of the season in Oberhof. Just one week after winning her fifth world title, the record-breaking World Champion missed out on the 38th victory of her career by the narrowest of margins. With 37 wins in the Viessmann World Cup, the 33-year-old sits at the top of the all-time rankings with her compatriot Sylke Otto.

Hüfner, who has a full complement of Olympic medals to her name, set a time of 41.248 seconds on her first run to beat the new track record just set by her long-term rival Geisenberger by 39 thousandths of a second. The record fell again on the second run. Russian slider Tatyana Ivanova finished third behind Hüfner and Geisenberger.

Natalie Geisenberger now leads the overall standings of the Viessmann World Cup on 797 points, ahead of Tatjana Hüfner (720). Erin Hamlin (536) from the USA currently lies third overall ahead of the final two Viessmann World Cups of the season in PyeongChang, Korea, on 18-19 February 2017, and in Altenberg, Germany, on 25-26 February 2017.

Quotes

Tatjana Hüfner (GER, 2010 Olympic Champion and five-time World Champion)

“Of course it’s frustrating to lose by the smallest possible measurement used in the luge competition.”

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

“I think that one thousandth of a second was a birthday treat today. In terms of the overall rankings I’m still cautious because there are two races left to go.”

Tatyana Ivanova (RUS / European Champion 2010 and 2012, World Championship silver medallist 2012 and 2015, World Championship bronze medallist 2016):

“I finished fourth last year, and now third this year. Maybe I’ll be second next year. Or even win!”