Sigulda (RWH) Natalie Geisenberger of Germany has successfully defended her World Championship title in the women’s singles, while teammate Tatjana Hüfner has further improved her position as the most successful World Championship competitor ever. At the 45th World Championships organised by the International Luge Federation (FIL), Olympic Champion Geisenberger took a second gold medal to add to the one earned in 2013, and her long-standing rival Hüfner took bronze to supplement four golds and a silver. As in 2012, Tatiana Ivanova of Russia collected silver in the Latvian town of Sigulda. Hüfner’s six world championship medals place her even more firmly at the top of the list of medallists in the women’s singles. She also has a full set of Olympic medals (gold in 2010, silver in 2014 and bronze in 2006). Her compatriots Sylke Otto and Margit Schumann are second and third in the World Championship medals list with 4 – 0 –1 and 4 – 0 – 0 respectively. Natalie Geisenberger’s win moves her up in the rankings to fifth (2 – 4 – 1) behind Susi Erdmann (GDR/GER / 3 – 2 – 0). US luger Erin Hamlin, 2009 World Champion and 2014 Olympic bronze medallist, came fourth and Canada’s Alex Gough was fifth. Quotes Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2014 Olympic Champion, 2013 World Champion) “It’s always great to defend a title. But I’m also quite proud of the fact that I’m achieving the same very high standards this year as I did in the Olympic season.” Tatiana Ivanova (RUS / 2010 and 2012 European Champion) “What a great present for my birthday on monday. It could hardly have gone any better.” Tatjana Hüfner (GER / 2010 Olympic Champion and four-times World Champion) “I would definitely have come in with a better result if I’d not made those mistakes at the start.” Advice: Due to a technical mistake of Swiss Timing this news was updated.