Oberhof (pps) At the 39th European Luge-Championships Germany’s Silke Kraushaar after a six-year break won her second European title. At her home track in Oberhof (Germany) , the Olympic Champion from 1998 was first in one minute, 22,995 seconds. A surprise was the silver medal for Kraushaars teammate, 20-years-old Tatjana Hüfner (one minute, 23,161 seconds). Without any World Cup competition, the Junior-World Championships silver-medallist from 2003 at her first international race was on rank two, followed by three-times World Champion Sylke Otto (Germany) in one minute, 23,376 seconds.

Quotes:

Silke Kraushaar (GER) (Olympic Champion 1998): „I am very happy. At my home track, the fans expect a medal. It was good, that I have had the team competition on Saturday, so I could work at my sled. Congratulations to Tatjana Hüfner. The jounger athletes are so successful, it is good for our team.

Tatjana Hüfner (GER) (Second at Junior World Championships 2003):
„I am so happy. Before the second run I was very nervous and I tried to relax and not to think about the competition. I am glad that I managed two good runs. Next week, our national trainer will tell the further nomination for the next Worldcup races but I don’t know, if I will be in the team.”

Sylke Otto (GER) (Olympic Champion 2002 and three times World Champion):
„I am not sad about my third rank. I don’t like the track in Oberhof very much. Silke Kraushaar had won the race with her good start. I am proud of Tatjana Hüfner that she stayed so cool. I am sure that she has a great future.“