Max Langenhan – the hunted man with a relaxed focus
Shortly before the XXV Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026
Oberhof (FIL/29 Jan 2026) Cortina d'Ampezzo is drawing closer. While the final preparations are underway in the Olympic Village, one of the biggest favorites in luge will also be moving into his quarters on Saturday, January 31: Max Langenhan, reigning world champion, two-time overall World Cup winner – and for many, the man to beat in the Olympic competitions.
Yet Langenhan is not one to make a big fuss. No grand gestures, no Olympic fanfare. Instead: calm, clarity – and a very clear picture of what awaits him in Cortina. The German athlete was already testing the new Cortina Sliding Center during the pre-homologation in spring 2025 and the international training week in autumn. His initial conclusion sounded almost enthusiastic: he “totally” liked the track. Not only because of the lines, but because of the overall flair. Mountains, history, tradition – Cortina breathes winter sports. “Having a new track here now is something special,” he says.
In terms of sport, the ice track promises little room for error. Langenhan expects close decisions and races on a knife edge. Key sections such as the Curva Antelao, the Curva Cristallo, and the Labyrinth 1–3 will decide the medals. Anyone who doesn't hit these sections cleanly will lose time – and in Cortina, there's no coming back.
As the favorite, Langenhan knows his competition well. At the top of his list is his roommate and three-time Olympic champion Felix Loch. Then there are the Austrians Jonas Müller and Nico Gleirscher, who are in great form, Italy's hope Dominik Fischnaller, and Latvia's Kristers Aparjode. Any new names? Not a chance. “The usual suspects,” says Langenhan soberly – and he knows exactly how small the margins have become.
He is more comfortable in the role of the hunted than one might think. He feels less pressure from titles or crystal globes than from his own expectations. Last season in particular, mistakes in races bothered him more than any statistics. “I can never be completely satisfied,” he admits openly. Even after victories, he thinks about that one small mistake. Ambition is his greatest strength—and sometimes his greatest weakness.
But this perfectionism has also made him the athlete he is today. One who talks about “98 or 99.9 percent runs” and is still chasing the perfect run. He is someone who knows how valuable experience is – and how much he can still learn from Felix Loch, for example when it comes to quickly adapting to new conditions. “He just flips the switch,” says Langenhan appreciatively.
What sets him apart from many of his competitors is his composure on competition day. Where others get nervous, Langenhan seems almost deeply relaxed. For him, a World Championship or Olympic race is “just a race.” He focuses at the right moment, then quickly switches off again. Don't tense up, don't overthink it – just have fun.
And yet the goal is clear. “Of course I want to be Olympic champion,” he says. At the same time, he knows that at the Olympic Games, anyone can hit the mark perfectly on the big day. Perhaps it is precisely this mixture of ambition, self-criticism, and inner calm that makes Max Langenhan so dangerous in Cortina.
On Saturday, he will move into the Olympic Village. The stage is set. Now the final phase begins – for the world champion, the overall World Cup winner, and the man who not only raves about the track in Cortina, but also wants to make history on it.
