Calgary (pps). In the 27-year history of the Luge World Cup just eight different Germans achieved a victory in the men’s singles. The list is headed by three-time Olympic champion Georg Hackl with 31 wins. The others belonging to that élite club are 1988 Olympic champion Jens Mueller, Joerg Hoffmann, Jens Schenke, Michael Walther, Rene Friedl, Johannes Schettel and Karsten Albert. Now David Moeller has become the ninth member.

The victory of the two-time World junior champion at the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Calgary came totally unexpected. The 21-year-old from Oberhof defeated all international stars including Georg Hackl with best times in both heats.

During the preparations for the 2003-2004 season, the veteran luger from Bavaria had particularly cared for the youngsters from Thuringia, besides Moeller especially Jan Eichhorn, who took fifth place at the last World Championships. “In the past 15 years I have seen many talents come and go, but these two are the best”, Hackl said prior to the start of the season. And he was not envious in Calgary. “I’m too long in this sport to be envious. On the contrary, I am very pleased that at last a German luger has shown what he is capable of. In particular because I have a very good relationship to David Moeller.”

David Moeller stresses that these are not just words. “Hackl gives us advice, comes to us.” One of the reasons may well be that the performances of the veteran and the youngsters are getting close. Hackl, who has also set his eyes to becoming German national coach in the future, is no longer the measure of all things. Moeller as well as Eichhorn are improving year by year. Moeller, the 2001 and 2002 World junior champion, prefers so-called sliding tracks such as Calgary.