Interview with YOG winner Miriam Kastlunger: “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime chance”

Park City (RWH)  Miriam Kastlunger (Photo left) won gold in the women’s luge at the very first Youth Olympic Games in Innsbruck in 2012. Reflecting on the event, the now 21-year-old Austrian describes the unique situation she found herself in. “It is a once-in-a lifetime chance because you can only compete in the YOG once because of your age,” Kastlunger said in an interview at the Viessmann World Cup in Park City, USA. “I can only advise anyone who is competing to soak up as much of the atmosphere as possible. You can put the experience you gain at the YOG to good use in “grown-up” winter games at a later date.”

Full interview with Miriam Kastlunger

FIL Press: Miriam Kastlunger, you won gold in the luge in 2012. What are your lasting memories of the first Youth Games?

Miriam Kastlunger: “I have only positive memories of the Youth Games. Quite apart from my personal sporting success, it was just an incredible experience. There was a real team spirit amongst the athletes, which I had never experienced at any other World Cups or events, and haven’t encountered again since. The main reason was that all the athletes stayed together in the Olympic Village with competitors from lots of other nations and disciplines. We really got to know about other sports and people from other countries at close quarters.”

FIL Press: What do you think about the Culture and Education Program offered to participants at the Youth Games?

Miriam Kastlunger: “I found the whole thing really easy-going. We had a week of training followed by the competition. After that, there were lots of things to do and enjoy. You get to know other cultures because other athletes take you to totally different events. We took athletes from other nations to see some traditional Austrian Schuhplattler folk dancing. All the athletes are still really young and haven’t seen much of the world, so they’re very curious and inquisitive.”

FIL Press: Has your experience of the YOG proved beneficial in your sporting career?

Miriam Kastlunger: “I went on to take part in the Winter Olympics in Sochi two years later, and I was well prepared thanks to my experience in the YOG. The Youth Games are not as hyped and are on a smaller scale, but the format is basically the same as the Winter Games. Competing in the YOG definitely gives you a slight edge over athletes who have never experienced that kind of event.”

FIL Press: It isn’t long until the second Youth Games, this time in Lillehammer. Do you have any advice for the athletes of 2016?

Miriam Kastlunger: “They need to give it their all in terms of sporting performance. Anyone who doesn’t give 100%, or even 110%, will not be able to compete at the front. And then they should also enjoy the supporting events and activities. It really is a once-in-a-lifetime chance because you can only compete in the YOG once due to your age. I can only advise anyone who is competing to soak up as much of the atmosphere as possible. You can put the experience you gain at the YOG to good use in “grown-up” winter games at a later date.”