Sigulda/Latvia (pps) While U.S. racer Kate Hansen celebrated her first top podium finish in the Viesmann Luge World Cup series Russia’s Natalie Khoreva earned the European Championship title. At the 9th stop of the World Cup series in Sigulda, Latvia, the former junior World Champion from sunny California defeated Canadian luger Alex Gough to second place.The last U.S. luger who celebrated a victory in the Viessmann Luge World Cup series was Myler. She took the top spot on the podium in Sigulda, Lavia, in November 1997.

Khoreva from Russia posted a third-place finish and thus collected the gold medal at the 45th European Championships of the International Luge Federation that were carried out within the World Cup event. Her compatriot Tatiana Ivanova, who who the 2010 and 2013 European Championship title, took the silver medal. German Dajana Eitberger, who claimed the bronze medal, prevented the first medal-less result at Europeans for Germany since 1976, when the then two German luge federations missed out on medals in Hammarstrand (Sweden). However, it was the very first time since the Viessmann Luge World Cup in St. Moritz (Switzerland) on January 23, 1988 that no German luger claimed a podium finish in the women’s singles. Back then it was U.S. luger Erica Terwillegar who earned the podium’s top spot ahead of teammate Cammy Myler and Italy’s Marie-Luise Rainer. By the way – the first European Luge Championships were carried out 100 years ago. Venue of the Europeans was Reichenberg in Bohemia, today’s Czech Republic, on February 1-2, 1914.

Thanks to her success in Sigulda, Gough improved her overall ranking in the Viessmann Luge World Cup to second place – with 626 points to her credit - behind Natalie Geisenberger (785 points) and ahead of Tatjana Huefner (551). Both German lugers did not compete in Latvia because of their intensive preparation for the upcoming Olympic Games.

Quotes

Kate Hansen (USA / 2008 Junior World Champion) “Of course it’s a great surprise for me. I’ve never dreamt winning the event. Well, I don’t know if the pressure with regard to the upcoming Olympic Games will be greater now. It’s a good question. But we’ll see…”

Natalia Khoreva (RUS / 2014 European Champion) “This is my career best result. I’ve always had at least one good run. But today I achieved two good ones. I really hope to have punched my ticket to the Olympic Games thanks to today’s European Championship title.”

Dajana Eitberger (2011 Junior World Champion, fourth-placed at the 2013 Europeans) "Last year I earned a fourth place and I wanted to improve the result. I’ve achieved this goal and this makes me very happy.”