Whistler (pps) Her contenders can’t manage it, neither can the flu: World Champion Natalie Geisenberger of Germany can’t be stopped in the Olympic winter. Thanks to her fourth season victory at the fourth stop of the Viessmann Luge World Cup series in Whistler, Canada, the most successful luger of the pre-Olympic season – she claimed the gold medal at the World and European Championships and took the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup title – set the best run times in both races and thus remains undefeated in the 2013-2014 season. On the 2010 Olympic luge track, where the 25-year-old claimed the bronze medal at the Vancouver Winter Games, Geisenberger also earned her 20th individual victory.

Canada’s Alex Gough achieved a second place finish - her best result in Whistler - behind Geisenberger who decided to do without a final training run because of a sore throat, headache and aching limbs. Germany’s Anke Wischnewski claimed a third place result ahead of team mate Tatjana Huefner, who became 2010 Olympic Champion on the Whistler luge track.

US lugers Erin Hamlin and Kate Hansen finished in fifth and sixth place, respectively and thus claimed the silver and bronze medal at the American Pacific Championships that were held at the same time. Alex Gough successfully defended her title.

The 2013 World bronze medalist, who claimed two victories in the Viessmann Luge World Cup series (Paramonovo / 2011 and Calgary / 2012), now has 261 points to her credit in the overall rankings and thus improved to second place ahead of Tatjana Huefner (260 points). Ahead of the fifth stop of the World Cup series in Park City (USA / Utah) Natalie Geisenberger is still heading the overall rankings (400) with a margin of 139 points

Quotes

Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2013 World Champion, bronze medalist at the 2010 Olympic Games)

“Everything worked out just perfect today. My sled is good, my start was good, the racing line was nearly perfect. This is how you can win World Cup races. They all say I’m the top favorite at the Olympic Games, they all expect me to win the gold medal. Well, there is pressure and I have to deal with it. That’s my fight.”

Alex Gough (CAN / bronze medalist at the 2011 and 2013 World Championships)

“It’s always great to achieve a podium finish. But it’s even better to do it on the home-track in front of friends and family. The second place finish is my best result ever here in Whistler, so that’s awesome. The second run wasn’t as good as I wanted it to be but then it was enough to claim the result I wanted.”