Innsbruck (pps) After the competition, once it was determined that Miriam-Stefanie Kastlunger (Austria) was the first women's luge gold medal winner at the inaugural winter Youth Olympic Games, the 17-year-old flung her arms around her father’s neck. While her mother Elke tried to suppress some tears, Kastlunger just danced with teammate Nina Prock who finished in fourth place.
In second position after the first run, Kastlunger managed to take the podium’s top spot from Saskia Langer (Germany) who was in the lead ahead of the second heat. Third place went to Ulla Zirne (Latvia). “I woke up this morning and just felt confident I could win the gold medal. This is why there wasn’t any pressure and I was able to go on the offensive,” said Kastlunger.
Under the eyes of Thomas Bach, vice president of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Kastlunger thus experienced her second big “appearance” in Innsbruck. Together with other Austrian particpants at the Youth Olympic Games (YOG), the 17-year-old received the Olympic Flag from Austrian sports idols such as Toni Innauer (Olympic ski jumping Champion) or Josef Feistmantl (1964 Olympic luge champion in the doubles) during the official Openening Ceremony. By the way Kastlunger, who earned a second place at the 2012 national Austrian championships, is in the same club (RV Swarovski Halltal/Absam) as the two-time Olympic doubles Champions Andreas and Wolfgang Linger.
