Gough coach evokes comparison with Sylke Otto
Paramonovo (pps) After the “heroic deed” was performed by Alex Gough, who thus wrote an important chapter in the history of the International Luge Federation, FIL, when she ended the probably longest international winning series, the Canadian “hero” and her coach Wolfgang Staudinger sat at the table of the FIL President. Josef Fendt, Alex Gough and her German coach then clinked glasses, sipping red wine and celebrating the first victory of the Canadian in the Viessmann World Cup. Her success was at the same time the end of the winning series of Germany’s women lugers after 105 successive victories and exactly 13 years and 68 days.
“This feat has historic dimensions”, said FIL President Josef Fendt. And added: “And on top of that at the première on the first Russian artificially-iced track. It couldn’t have worked out better“. Alex Gough, on the other hand, still had problems to grasp her good fortune. “Great. It’s simply wonderful. Unbelievable“, she said again and again, hardly believing what she had achieved.
When the amazing series of “black-red-gold successes” started at Innsbruck-Igls on December 6, 1997 with Babara Niedernhuber’s first World Cup victory, the then just 10-year old Alex Gough never even gave a thought to the sport of luge. Only three years later Alex’ mother enrolled her in a camp of the Canadian Federation. Right away, Alex celebrated a success – in the 2000-2001 winter she took second place at the „Husky/Mohawk Alberta Cup“.
The today 23-year old gathered momentum when Wolfgang Staudinger started working as Canada’s head coach in the summer of 2007. The former doubles’ bronze medallist (together with Thomas Schwab) at the 1988 Olympic Games in Calgary gently formed the young talent, emphazising consistent and steady performances, and was pleased with highlights every now and then. Such as, for instance, Alex Gough’s fourth place at the 2009 World Championships in Lake Placid. Already at that time, Staudinger compared the physical frame of his protégée to Germany’s Sylke Otto, the former 2002 and 2006 Olympic as well as four-time World champion (2000, 2001, 2003, 2005). And now, just two weeks after the bronze medal at the Worlds in Cesana – her first ever World Championship medal – Alex Gough has indeed written a chapter of luge history in Paramonovo.
“This success is not only a historic feat for Canada but for the entire world of luge”, Staudinger said. “All the agitation and the commotion at the finish line is hard to describe if you weren’t a part of it.” With all the jubilation and cheers at the finish the two German lugers Carina Schwab and Natalie Geisenberger, defeated by Gough to second and third place respectively, were among the first to congratulate and were truly happy for Alex Gough. “That’s great Alex. That’s simply great.”
