Degenhardt/Rosenthal and Eggert/Benecken win double gold at World Championships in Oberhof

Oberhof (FIL/28 Jan 2023) The German festival at this year's World Championships continued on Saturday morning. Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal defended their World Championship title from last year in the women's doubles and went on to win again after sprint gold. Earlier, the men could be happy about a German double victory: Local heroes Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken won their fifth World Championship title in total on their home track ahead of Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt.

Last year, the women's doubles were still held as part of the Junior World Championships, but for the first time they competed for their titles in front of IOC President Dr. Thomas Bach during the World Championships. With two best times, the two Germans Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal drove to their second World Championship title in a row. The title defense was not a sure thing, because the 20-year-old from Saxony and the 22-year-old from North Rhine-Westphalia had been on the podium six times this season, but had not yet won a World Cup. With their WCH victory in the sprint yesterday, the knot seemed to be broken. Today they set track records in both runs and won with an overall time of 1.17.619 ahead of Austria's Selina Egle and Lara Kipp (+0.126 sec.) and Italy's Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer (+0.187 sec.).

It was not only the same podium as in the sprint decision, but exactly the three women's doubles were on the podium who also determine the current World Cup season. After run one, all three were within 70 thousandths of each other and thus once again showed an exciting race. Latvia's Anda Upite and Sanija Ozolina were already well behind in fourth place. A surprising result was achieved by the young Italians Nadia Falkensteiner and Annalena Huber who, after fourth place in the sprint, finished fifth today, closely followed by the US Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby.

How young the discipline and its lugers are can also be seen from the fact that only three of the 15 sleds that started did not make it into the U23 World Championship standings. Degenhart/Rosenthal could also be happy about this title. Egle/Kipp (AUT) and Upite/Ozolina (LAT) completed the U23 World Championship podium.

Thuringian audience celebrates Eggert/Benecken in home victory

Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken kept their nerves and showed once again on their home track that they are the measure of all things at World Championships: They not only defended their World Championship title, but won for the fifth time in a row. With five World Championship gold and three World Championship silver medals, they continue to lead the eternal World Championship rankings. Cheered on by thousands of fans at the track, they set the best time in both runs and won in an overall time of 1.23.517 ahead of their teammates Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt (+0.171 sec.) and Austrians Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher (+0.192 sec.). The Olympic champions still improved from third to silver place, but were clearly behind the World Champions with almost two tenths. While the Austrians were happy about their first World Championship medal, Wendl/Arlt celebrated their ninth World Championship podium in total.

The 2019 World Championship bronze medallists Thomas Steu and Lorenz Koller (AUT) finished fourth, closely followed by the young Latvians Martins Bots and Roberts Plume and the Italians Emanuel Rieder / Simon Kainzwalder. The U23 World Championship title was won by the US doubles Di Gregorio/Hollander. They won ahead of Gatt/Schoepf (AUT) and Sevics-Mikelsevics/Krasts (LAT).

Quotes:

Jessica Degenhardt (GER): “We made it with great confidence because we are here on a track where we feel at home. Until now we only had World Cups abroad, now we are racing in front of a home crowd. There is a super atmosphere. We still had to work a lot on ourselves, on our driving style, on the sled. We were always only second or third and didn't know why it wasn't enough for the front. The effort was worth it and we are totally happy”

Cheyenne Rosenthal (GER): “We both get along well on the sled, we harmonize and that everything is well coordinated.”

Selina Egle (ATU): “Enormous, I don't know what to say. Respect to the German girls, they really let down their guard and absolutely deserved the victory. We know that we have to work a lot on our start and that we have to step on the gas here in summer, but it's even cooler that we got silver twice here.”

Lara Kipp (AUT): “It's an unusual feeling to stand on stage in front of so many fans and be honored, it was unique yesterday, we are really looking forward to the medal ceremony.”

Andrea Vötter (ITA): “I would never have thought that I already have two medals on the second day of the World Championships. I am overjoyed.”

Marion Oberhofer (ITA): “We are mega happy. Many thanks to the Oberhof audience. The atmosphere is amazing. They cheer for everyone and that is a great experience for all athletes.”

Toni Eggert (GER): “Before the second run I was sitting on top and thought it felt different. I didn't have that for a long time. There is a certain tension there and not so that it will be boring. After the press conference we will prepare the sled for tomorrow. The Team Relay is an important race. There will be no celebrations today. We will enjoy the award ceremony, have a nice dinner and prepare for tomorrow.”

Tobias Wendl (GER): “We are definitely satisfied with the result. We have been on the podium at every major event for ten years,” he says through tears.

Tobias Arlt (GER): “We had one or two mistakes in there, so hats off to Toni and Sascha who brutally rocked it today in front of their home crowd. They drove so well. Respect. They have earned it. We're totally happy with second place.“

Yannick Müller (AUT): “The medal has even more weight than the one in yesterday's sprint, the joy is accordingly great. Our strength is not necessarily the start, thanks to the fast equipment we make up for it in the track. After my hand fracture at the Olympic Games I couldn't train for half the summer, so it's a great comeback season. The three plates and 26 screws that are still in the arm will then come out after the season.”

Armin Frauscher (AUT): “After yesterday the result was already there, we knew the sled was running, went into the competition relaxed. We know what we can do, the result is definitely incredible. The coaches all worked really hard together and gave us a top sled. We just had to put everything on point and get the result out.”

The World Championship and U23 World Championship results in men's and women's doubles are available at the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/fil-weltmeisterschaften-16