Slovaks Halcin/Halcin claim their first Junior World Championship title

Cousins Gabriel and Samuel Halcin win gold in the doubles event in Umhausen (AUT)

The 15th Alpine Luge Junior World Championships have secured their place in the history books. On Saturday, Gabriel Halcin and Samuel Halcin of Slovakia claimed the Junior World Championship title in the doubles event on the “Grantau”-track in Umhausen (AUT). It is the first World Championship gold medal ever won by Slovakia.

(from left) Alex Castiglioni/Jakob Gruber Genetti (ITA), Gabriel Halcin/Samuel Halcin (SVK) and Wojciech Kwiecinski and Patryk Hudy (POL)

Umhausen (FIL/31 January 2026) – Gabriel and Samuel Halcin went into the championships as clear favourites. The Slovak cousins had already won gold at the 2025 Junior European Championships in Latsch/Laces (ITA), and in the FIL Alpine Luge World Cup they had finished on the podium in three of the four races so far. On the 955-metre natural track “Grantau” in the Ötztal valley, Halcin/Halcin set the fastest time in both runs. With a combined time of 2:38.03 minutes, they secured the gold medal ahead of the leaders in the Junior World Cup, Jakob Gruber Genetti and Alex Castiglioni (ITA/+1.30 seconds), and the Polish duo Wojciech Kwiecinski and Patryk Hudy (+4.36).

“We focused exclusively on the FIL World Cup this winter, so we didn’t really know what level to expect from the junior competition. This title means a lot to us. Our runs were not perfect – especially in the first run we drifted too much in some sections,” said Gabriel Halcin. “We are still missing a World Cup victory, but our main goal is the 2027 World Championships in Igls,” added Samuel Halcin.

Singles finals on Sunday

In the women’s singles, after two of three runs, Tina Stuffer (ITA, 2:27.92 minutes) leads by 0.76 seconds ahead of European Champion Nina Castiglioni (ITA) and Lotte Mulser (ITA, +1.37). After the first run in the men’s singles, Ziga Kralj (SLO, 1:13.12 minutes) is in the lead ahead of his brother Vid Kralj (SLO, +0.42) and Alexander Staffler (ITA, +0.75).

The medal decisions in the singles events follow on Sunday from 9.30 a.m.

Junior World Championships 2026 – Umhausen
Top 3 doubles
1.    Gabriel Halcin / Samuel Halcin (SVK), 2:38.03 minutes
2.    Jakob Gruber Genetti / Alex Castiglioni (ITA), +1.30 seconds
3.    Wojciech Kwiecinski / Patryk Hudy (POL), +4.36 seconds