Geisenberger with emotional gold hat-trick in Beijing 2022

Yanqing (FIL) Natalie Geisenberger won individual gold at the Olympic Winter Games in Beijing and thus got the historic Olympic hat-trick under her belt. In the third of four runs Geisenberger convinced with a track record of 58.226 seconds in the Olympic ice track in Yanqing. With two best times and twice the second-best run time behind team-mate Julia Taubitz, the Bavarian luger made Olympic history. The 34-year-old crowned herself the first three-time Olympic luge champion in the Singles in the Yanqing ice track. In addition, she has won two Olympic gold medals with the team relay (2014 and 2018).

The five-time Olympic Champion could hardly believe it, kept shaking her head and wiping tears of joy from her eyes. With the German flag around her neck, Geisenberger slid across the ice on her knees immediately after her gold run and fell into the arms of her team-mate Felix Loch, who kissed her foot in recognition. After four runs, the luger from Miesbach was 0.493 seconds ahead of team-mate Anna Berreiter, at her first Olmypic appearance. Tatyana Ivanova won bronze for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).

Fourth to sixth place went to Austria's Madeleine Egle, Hannah Prock and Lisa Schulte. Co-favourite Madeleine Egle (+1.355 sec.) had tumbled out of the dreaded turn 13 in the first run with intermediate best time. Top favourite Julia Taubitz (GER), who crashed in the second run, finished seventh behind the Austrians.

"My goal was to be able to race for a medal again. There was a lot of pressure on me. I was very nervous after all the crashes. The exit of curve 13 caused a clear feeling of insecurity in me. It is unbelievable that it was enough for gold. I have no words for that. Thanks to my family," said Geisenberger.

Tatyana Ivanova was overwhelmed: "I have waited eight years for this medal and worked hard for it. Then I had such a difficult season. After my injury here in Yanqing in November, I couldn't train properly all winter and it was so hard for me that this bronze medal now shines like gold. It is so beautiful and I am overjoyed."

All Olympic results can be found at the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/en/multimedia/olympic-winter-games-3