Park City (pps) The Olympic Champions Sylke Otto from Germany and Italy’s Armin Zöggeler claimed the victories at the season’s opener in Suzuki Challenge Cup at Park City (USA). On the Olympic track for the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, the victory in doubles went to Christian Oberstolz/Patrick Gruber from Italy. It was the 19th success for Sylke Otto in Suzuki Challenge Cup and the 6th for Armin Zöggeler. Oberstolz/Gruber signed for the third in the winning list of Suzuki Challenge Cup.
In the half finale Sylke Otto eliminated her team-mate Silke Kraushaar, the Olympic Champion from 1998. In the finale the two times Olympic Champion defeated Erin Hamlin from USA. But it was the best result ever for the 20 year old athlete from Ransim/New York.

In the men’s finale, Armin defeated Russia’s Albert Demtschenko. Third place went to Tony Benshoof (USA). Martins Rubenis, originally on the third place, was disqualified for an equipment violation.
In doubles gold went to Oberstolz/Gruber, who defeated in the finale Austria’s Olympic Champions Andreas Linger/Wolfgang Linger. Third place took Germany’s former Olympic Champions Patric Leitner/Alexander Resch.