DaMartina Kocher, Felix Loch and Wendl/Arlt are the first winners at the FIL Sprint World Championships

Königssee (RWH) Martina Kocher, Felix Loch and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt, have opened a new chapter for the International Luge Federation (FIL). Competing on the artificial track in Königssee, the trio have gone down in history at the 46th FIL World Championships by becoming the first winners at an FIL Sprint World Championship.

In the battle for the championships, which is taking place on the world’s first artificial track for the sixth time, the two-time Olympic Champions and double World Champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt pushed the Austrians Peter Penz and Georg Fischler back into second place. Third place went to the Italian pairing of Christian Oberstoltz and Patrick Gruber. World Cup runners-up Toni Eckert and Sascha Benecken (GER) were disqualified after their sled was too heavy.

Martina Kocher of Switzerland took the top spot on the podium for the first time.  Elisabeth Nägele won gold at the World Championships in Girenbach (SUI) in 1961. Second and third place went to the Olympic Champions and World Champions Nathalie Geisenberger and Tajana Eitberger of Germany.

The German men’s team celebrated a triple victory. Felix Loch, Olympic gold medal winner and four-time World Champion, won the first ever Sprint World Championship title, beating his team mates Andi Langenhan into second and Ralf Palik into third.

The World Championships for the Olympic disciplines will be held in Königssee over the weekend. Saturday (30 January 2016) will see the race for the doubles’ title (start: 12:45 p.m.) and the women’s title (3:20 p.m.). The men’s world champion will be decided on Sunday (31 January 2016) at 10.15 a.m. The 46th FIL World Championships in Königssee will then close with the team relay, which starts at 2:00 p.m.