Sochi (pps) Germany’s Tatjana Huefner is the very first winner of a Viessmann Luge World Cup event on the future Olympic track in Sochi, Russia. At the Olympic test event at the “Sliding Center Sanki”, at the same time the final of the World Cup series, the 29-year-old 2010 Olympic and four-time World Champion earned her first top podium finish in the Viessmann Luge World Cup series after 13 months. Huefner’s last podium dates back to the World Cup in St. Moritz (Switzerland) in January 2012. She now has 32 individual Viessmann Luge World Cup victories to her credit.
Huefner’s teammates Natalie Geisenberger and Anke Wischnewski finished in second and third position, respectively. Former European Champion Tatiana Ivanova of Russia claimed a fourth place ahead of U23 World Champion Aileen Frisch of Germany.
Already before the final Natalie Geisenberger, four times runner-up in the overall World Cup rankings (2008-2009, 2009-2010, 2010-2011 and 2011-2012) and once on third place (2007-2008), had prematurely won the “Joska” crystal award of the overall World Cup winner. The 2010 Olympic bronze medalist thus succeeded Olympic Champion Huefner, who won the overall World Cup five times in a row (2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011). Anke Wischnewski finished in second position in the overall rankings, followed by Huefner on third place.
By the way – with Albert and Viktoria Demchenko it was the first time in the history of the Viessmann Luge World Cup that father and daughter competed together in a luge event. At her World Cup debut, however, the 18-year-old daughter of the 2006 Olympic silver medalist was disqualified because her sled did not conform to the rules.
Complete result lists can be downloaded at www.fil-luge.org
Quotes
Tatjana Huefner (GER / 2010 Olympic and four-time World Champion, five-time overall World Cup winner)
“I like this track a lot and I’m really looking forward to each run. With each training run I’ve got to know the rhythm of the track better and better and adapted quite well. This is a perfect ending to a season with a lot of ups and even more downs. This victory will give me a lot of self-confidence for the coming Olympic season.”
Natalie Geisenberger (GER / 2013 World Champion, 2010 Olympic bronze medalist, World silver medalist in 2008, 2009 and 2011, World bronze medalist in 2012, 2008 and 2013 European Champion)
“It’s only a small winning margin. I’ve made no mistakes – but that’s the sport. It is a great season ending for me and I’m happy for Tatjana. This way, we all go into the next season with a success.”
Anke Wischnewski (GER / 2007 World silver medalist, 2013 World bronze medalist) “It’s not too difficult to negotiate this track. It’s a track that does not punish every mistake right away. I hope that next year, we’ll have a bit of snow here with a more wintery atmosphere.”
