Olympia Preview: Three World Champions an dnd one Youngster are the Favorites

PyeongChang (RWH) Three veteran World Champions and a young gun: Germany’s Felix Loch, Russia’s Semen Pavlichenko, Austria’s Wolfgang Kindl, and 21-year-old Russian Roman Repilov are the hot favorites for the men’s singles luge at the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang. “It’s the usual suspects,” said a relaxed Felix Loch, who has two Olympic gold medals and five World Championship titles to his name.

After failing to win a title in the pre-Olympic winter season, the 29-year-old has rejoined the world elite after claiming an impressive four World Cup wins and overall victory in the Viessmann World Cup. He conducted detailed analysis of his poor performance last winter and decided to regroup ahead of PyeongChang. “My start is good again now, we really got to grips with it in training,” says Loch by way of insight into the piece of the puzzle which now fits with other aspects of his performance including driving position, sense of rhythm, bravery, and equipment.

Wolfgang Kindl cuts a fine aerodynamic figure on the track. The first Austrian World Champion in 21 years has every intention of winning an Olympic medal for his dazzling descent, as it would be the first for Austria since Markus Prock took bronze in Salt Lake City in 2002. The double World Champion from Innsbruck, who also won the sprint title on the Olympic track in his home town, was hampered by back problems early in the season but these have now been ironed out.

These are also tough times for Repilov and Pavlichenko, who will compete as Olympic Athletes for Russia (OAR). At least the admission committee of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) chaired by the former French Sports Minister Valérie Fourneyron has cleared the duo to compete at the Olympics. However, high expectations now rest on the pair’s shoulders.

 “This has given me confidence going into the Olympics,” Repilov said after finishing third in the FIL European Championships in Sigulda (LAT). At 21 years of age, Repilov may be the youngest in the quartet of favorites, but he has already enjoyed plenty of success. He was Junior World Champion in 2015 and 2016, World Championship silver medallist in 2017, and overall World Cup winner in 2016/2017.

Semen Pavlichenko, the 2015 World Champion and three-time European Champion, is often unpredictable, and no more so than in the recent winter season. “Die or fly” appears to be the 26-year-old luger’s motto. Not even 24 hours after winning the European Championships, Pavlichenko, who finished fifth at the Sochi Olympics, messed up the BMW Sprint World Cup in Sigulda and had to settle for fourth in the overall standings, just a single point behind his compatriot Repilov.

In addition to the “big four”, who won 11 of the 13 World Cup events this season, only the Fischnaller cousins made it onto the winners’ roster. Kevin won in Winterberg, and Dominik secured victory in Lillehammer. The latter, who won bronze at the 2017 World Championships, also took victory in the Olympic test last year but has been quite inconsistent of late.