Innsbruck-Igls (pps) Jürgen Oberthanner, the physiotherapist of the Austrian national luge team, was awarded with the Fair Play Trophy of the International Luge Federation (FIL). The FIL paid tribute to Oberthanner’s selfless behavior. Oberthanner was injured while trying to stop the sled of Italy’s Sarah Podorieszach, which was heading towards her at top speed as she was lying on the track after her serious crash. His foot was badly bruised and his thumb bone splintered so that his hand had to be put in plaster.
It was thanks to the courageous intervention of the Austrian physiotherapist that Sarah Podorieszach was not injured even more seriously. In her crash during training for the Viessmann World Cup in Altenberg, the Italian athlete, who was born in Canada, suffered a comminuted fracture of her right foot angle.