Kristers Aparjods achieves first World Cup victory for a Latvian

Sochi (FIL) Kristers Aparjods has done it. He was the first Latvian to win a men's race at the EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup.

A week ago, the 23-year-old had dropped back to fourth place in Sochi after the best time in the first run, but in his second attempt on the Olympic track, the second-best time twice was enough for first place.

Second place went to Johannes Ludwig (Germany), who had triumphed the previous week. Dominik Fischnaller was third. The Italian had improved the track record to 51.461 seconds in the first run. He shared a sled with his team mate Leon Felderer. In run two, Ludwig then pushed the best mark to 51.379 seconds.

Kristers Aparjods had to give interviews and receive congratulations after his historic victory. His team watched him, started a la-ola wave for him. "This is unbelievable." Head coach Kristaps Maurins struggled for words, "This will give us a huge boost." The Latvians feel very comfortable, for them Sochi is the second "home track" next to Sigulda.

Of course, Aparjods reacted very emotionally at the finish. "I dedicate this victory to all those who have accompanied me on my way," said the athlete from Sigulda and enumerated: "To my coaches, my parents and my grandfather, who died this year, he was a big fan of mine. He would have been very proud of me." As will be mum Aiva Apajode, who was also a luger and finished 18th at the 2006 Turin Olympics, and his sister Kendija Aparjode, who will compete in the women's World Cup race tomorrow.

As a race within a race, the American-Pacific Championship was held. Jonathan Eric Gustafson finished 14th in the World Cup, which meant he was best in the separate classification. He had not expected that. At least he appeared very surprised at the finish line. "Really?" he asked, "very cool." Especially since he could only start with a sled borrowed from the Russians because his own is still at customs in Beijing.   

Detailed results and further information on the 3rd EBERSPÄCHER Luge World Cup of the 2021/22 season in Sochi (RUS) can be found at the following link: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/eberspaecher-weltcup-17

The results for the 2022 America-Pacific Championships can be found here: https://www.fil-luge.org/de/ergebnisse/amerika-pazifik-meisterschaften-9