Former Junior World Champion Jessica Tiebel takes break from competition

Oberhof (RWH) Three-time Junior World Champion Jessica Tiebel (Photo: Archiv FIL) is set to take a break from competition owing to problems with motivation, and so will play no part in the 49th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) in Sochi in mid-February. This move comes in the wake of close consultation with head coach Norbert Loch and Germany’s team of trainers.

“Jessica has been talking to our coaches in recent weeks and complaining about problems with motivation and her fear of failure. We have taken this very seriously and we wish to give this young athlete the chance to step away from active competition,” Norbert Loch explained in a press release issued by the German Luge Federation (BSD).

Tiebel, the gold medallist at the 2015, 2017 and 2018 Junior World Championships, and silver medallist at the Youth Olympics in 2016, finished third in the season opener in Innsbruck followed by sixth in the Viessmann World Cup in Whistler, Canada. The Altenberg native was joint tenth in the overall classification with her teammate Cheyenne Rosenthal going into the Viessmann World Cup in Oberhof.