Season review / Women: Schulte becomes World Champion - Taubitz wins Overall World Cup for the fourth time.

Berchtesgaden (FIL/02. Apr. 2024) Twelve different female luge athletes from five nations stood on the podium at the 2023/2024 EBERSPAECHER Luge World Cup.

Gone are the days when German female lugers won in a row or even filled the podium exclusively. Madeleine Egle, Lisa Schulte and Hannah Prock from Austria raced onto the World Cup podium last winter, as did Elina Ieva Vitola and Kendija Aparjode from Latvia and the three Americans Ashley Farquharson, Emily Sweeney and Summer Britcher or Switzerlands Natalie Maag. Of course, Germany's Julia Taubitz, Anna Berreiter and Merle Fräbel should not be forgotten. Fräbel is only 20 years old, won her first World Cup in Oberhof and set two track records in Altenberg and Sigulda. There's more to come - no need to worry about the future of international luge.

Sensational World Champion: Schulte races to the world title with super runs

Lisa Schulte from Austria secured the women's World Championship title with two outstanding runs. She crossed the finish line ahead of Julia Taubitz from Germany and her team-mate Madeleine Egle.

The second heat of the World Championships developed into a real record-breaking race, with Merle Fräbel from Germany breaking the track record. The athletes made it exciting - there were a few crashes and various sliding errors, many female athletes showed remarkable performances on the demanding World Championship track and offered the spectators an exciting race.

Julia Taubitz secures overall victory in the Luge World Cup for the fourth time

Julia Taubitz from Germany has secured overall victory in the EBERSPAECHER Women's Luge World Cup for the fourth time in her career. Despite finishing ninth in the final in Sigulda, Taubitz surpassed the 1000-point mark and confidently secured the big JOSKA crystal globe for the overall winner of the 2023/2024 World Cup.

The season was characterized by outstanding performances for Taubitz. The 28-year-old finished on the podium eleven times in twelve World Cups. With a total of 1034 points, she topped the overall World Cup standings and became only the second female luge athlete to achieve this feat alongside 6-times Olympic Champion Natalie Geisenberger (Germany).

"I am overwhelmed and grateful for this great achievement this season," said Taubitz after the overall victory was announced. "It was a season full of challenges, but I'm proud that I was able to defend my title."

Anna Berreiter (Germany) followed in second place in the overall World Cup with 791 points, followed by Madeleine Egle from Austria with 742 points and Elina Ieva Vitola from Latvia with 622 points. World Champion Lisa Schulte from Austria took fifth place in the overall World Cup with 616 points, followed by Ashley Farquharson from the USA in sixth place with 612 points.

Next week we continue with our season review series episode 3 of 6 / Men's Singles.