Historic Olympic Moment: Venezuela’s Werner and Christopher Hoeger –
Throwback on the Road to Milano-Cortina 2026:
The First Father and Son to Compete Head-to-Head in Olympic Luge

Berchtesgaden (FIL/23 Oct 2025) It was one of those rare moments in Olympic history when sport became a family affair — and luge made it unforgettable. At the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Venezuela’s Werner and Christopher Hoeger became the first-ever father and son to compete against each other in the same Olympic luge event.

A Story of Passion Across Generations

For Werner Hoeger, university professor and fitness expert who represented Venezuela at the Winter Olympics in 2002 and 2006, the Salt Lake City Olympic Games were a very special Olympic experience. At 48 years of age, he was the oldest male competitor in the men’s singles event, still chasing the same dream that had inspired him decades earlier.

At the other end of the spectrum stood his son Christopher, just 17 years old — Venezuela’s youngest-ever Winter Olympian. With youthful determination and fearless enthusiasm, he proudly followed his father onto the Olympic track, both representing a tropical nation not known for winter sports.

A Unique Father–Son Duel

While Werner brought experience and calm precision, Christopher brought speed and youthful ambition.

Both managed to qualify for the Olympic Games — already a historic achievement for Venezuela and for the global luge community.

When the final times were posted, Christopher finished 31st, and his father Werner placed 40th — results that mattered far less than the story behind them.

For the Hoegers, sharing the start house at the Olympic Games was a once-in-a-lifetime moment — one defined by pride, family, and a shared love for the sport of luge.

A Legacy Beyond Results

Their remarkable story continues to inspire athletes from emerging winter sport nations. It stands as proof that luge is more than just speed and precision — it’s about passion passed from one generation to the next.

The Hoeger family opened a unique chapter in Olympic luge history — one that reminds us that the Olympic dream can truly be a family tradition.