Berchtesgaden (RWH) The International Luge Federation (FIL) in Berchtesgaden and the Austrian Luge Federation (ÖRV) are together mourning the loss of Rudolf Schmid, Bronze Medalist in doubles of the 1976 Olympic Winter Games in Innsbruck, Austria. The younger brother of Manfred Schmid, 1968 Olympic Champion in men’s single, died on Tuesday 21 October 2014 at the age of 63 in a cycling accident in Oberwart in his adopted home of Burgenland. His death was announced by Heinz Leutgeb, financial secretary of the Styrian Luge Association.

Rudolf Schmid won bronze at the 1976 Olympic Games in Innsbruck together with his partner Franz Schachner. Together they won Bronze at the World Champion Ships 1975 in Hammarstrand, Sweden. At European Champion Ships he won Silver 1970 in doubles together with Franz Schachner and bronze 1974 in men’s single.
Schmid’s older brother Manfred, who won Gold at the 1968 Olympic Winter Games in Grenoble, France, is the most successful luger from Lienz. With his partner Ewald Walch, Manfred Schmid won gold in the doubles at the FIL World Championships in Koenigssee in both 1969 and 1970, and also finished as runner-up in the singles in 1969.