European Champion Tatjana Hüfner closes in on record-breaking winner Sylke Otto

Winterberg (RWH)  Germany’s Tatjana Hüfner has enjoyed another fantastic result to round off the season. The 2016 European Champion won the season finale of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Winterberg to secure her third victory of the season and the 36th of her career.

The 2010 Olympic Champion and four-time World Champion joins retired slider Silke Kraushaar (GER) in second place on the all-time list of winners in the Viessmann Luge World Cup, just behind another retired champion, Sylke Otto (GER / 37 wins).

Second place on the track in the Hochsauerland region went to the 2014 Olympic Champion in 2014 and three-time World Champion Natalie Geisenberger follow (GER), who beat her own track record from five years ago, setting a new time of 56.175 seconds. Third place went to Tatiana Ivanova from Russia who claimed World Championship bronze in Königssee.

World Champion Natalie Geisenberger from Germany clinched victory in the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup (895 points). Second place went to Tatiana Ivanova (771) and third place to Tatjana Hüfner (769).

Fourth and fifth places were occupied by the Americans Erin Hamlin, who finished fifth in Winterberg, and Summer Britcher, who came eighth. The US team is still waiting for its first podium in the overall World Cup since 1997/1998, when Cammy Myler finished third in the overall standings in the season which included the Winter Olympics in Nagano.

Quotes

Tatjana Hüfner (GER / Olympic Champion 2010, four-time World Champion and European Champion 2016)

“Looking back to the start of the season when I ruptured my Achilles tendon, and now reflecting on the situation at the end of the winter, it has been a successful season. The European Championship title in Altenberg and victory here in Winterberg are great achievements. It’s a pity I didn’t manage second place in the standings, but well done to Tatiana Ivanova on this result.”

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

“My season wasn’t as successful as previous years, but I did manage to come out on top in the main events – the World Championships and the overall World Cup. Two golds and one silver are OK. But I have a lot of work to do.”

Tatiana Ivanova (RUS / World Championship bronze medallist 2016, World Championship silver medallist 2012 and 2015)

“I’ve made it onto the podium in the overall World Cup for the first time. This is my best season, although 2012 was good too with two World Championship silver medals in the singles and the team relay. But I’ve never managed to take two World Cup victories in a winter like I have done this year.”