Celebrating Gender Equality Month

Sorina Ticu – From the Olympic Luge Track to International Sports Executive

Berchtesgaden (FIL/20 Mar 2026) As part of Gender Equality Month, the International Luge Federation (FIL) highlights the inspiring journey of Sorina Ticu – a pioneer of Romanian luge who has successfully transitioned from elite athlete to influential sports leader.

Born on December 5, 1973, in Bucharest, Sorina Ticu (née Grigore) represented Romania in luge during the 1990s. She competed at the Olympic Winter Games Lillehammer 1994, finishing 22nd in the women’s singles, and took part in the European Championships the same year at Königssee.

Following her athletic career, Ticu remained deeply committed to the sport. She served for many years as a coach and later as head coach of the Romanian national luge team, guiding athletes at multiple Olympic Winter Games, including Turin 2006, Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018, and Beijing 2022.

Today, Sorina Ticu plays a key role in shaping the future of sliding sports. Since 2023, she has been President of the Romanian Bobsleigh, Skeleton and Luge Federation and represents winter sports within the Romanian Olympic and Sports Committee. At international level, she has been a member of the FIL Executive Board since 2022.

Her commitment extends beyond sport performance. Țicu is a strong advocate for the development of luge in Romania and for increasing female representation in leadership positions across sport.

In 2025, she achieved another milestone by earning her Ph.D. in Sports Science from the National University of Science POLITEHNICA Bucharest, focusing on strategies to improve performance in luge.

Dr. Sorina Ticu’s journey reflects the powerful message of the IOC initiative “Sport Takes Her Places” – demonstrating how sport can open doors from the field of play to leadership at the highest level.

Read the full IOC story: Sport Takes Her Places: From the field of play to the boardroom