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Olympic Champion Natalie Geisenberger romps to victory in season opener

Damen Winterberg 2016

Winterberg (RWH) Natalie Geisenberger has started the pre-Olympic season in a manner befitting an Olympic Champion. The three-time World Champion clinched the 34th singles victory of her career at the season opener of the Viessmann Luge World Cup in Winterberg. The 28-year-old German twice set a new track record en route to victory, ultimately setting a time of 55.323 seconds. The previous best time of 56.154 seconds, which was set by Birgit Platzer when she took victory in the Nations Cup the day before, was bettered four times in total.

Natalie Geisenberger, defending Viessmann Luge World Cup holder, took victory by a margin of 0.408 seconds in the end. Second place went to the four-time World Champion and Vancouver Olympic Champion Tatjana Hüfner (GER). Dajana Eitberger (GER) secured third.

Birgit Platzer from Austria took fourth place to claim the best result of her career to date. Russia’s Tatyana Ivanova from Russia improved her time in the second race to move up from tenth to fifth place. Kimberley McRae of Canada, who came fifth at the Olympics, took sixth in today’s race. The best performer on the injury-plagued US team was Emily Sweeney in ninth.

Quotes

Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2014 Olympic Champion, three-time World Champion)

“It was great fun out there today, especially the second run. You really only get one shot on ice like that in these warm temperatures. It was a perfect day all round, both for me and for the German team.”

 

Tatjana Hüfner (GER, 2010 Olympic Champion, four-time World Champion)

“Natalie was untouchable today and she deserves the win. But it was a good first race for me and I’m confident about the rest of the season.”

 

Dajana Eitberger (GER / European Champion 2015 and World Championship bronze medallist in the 2016 Sprint)

“A World Cup is always completely different to the qualifying rounds, and I’m still carrying some lingering uncertainty after last winter. So, all in all, I’m very satisfied with the first race of the year.”