Berchtesgaden (pps) Sweeping changes were announced by the German bobsleigh and luge federation (BSD) on the occasion of the bobsleigh and skeleton World Championships in Altenberg. Thomas Schwab (aged 45), who has been head coach of the German luge team since 1994, will become Secretary General and Sports Director in May. Successor to Schwab’s former position will be Norbert Loch, also aged 45.

These changes had become necessary following the surprising decision of Stefan Krauss, present Secretary General and Sports Director, to leave the federation in order to become head of marketing at the German Skiing Federation (DSV).

Under Thomas Schwab, German luge athletes recently captured nine out of ten possible medals at the World Championships in Oberhof, Germany. Altogether, Schwab’s athletes won 55 gold medals, 47 silver medals and 27 bronze medals at Olympic Games, World and European Championships.

His successor Norbert Loch, father of Felix Loch, the 2008 surprise World Champion, currently works as coach for the German federal state of Bavaria. Besides his son, he also coached Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt, silver medalists at the 2008 World Championships, and Natalie Geisenberger, 2008 European Champion and silver medalist in Oberhof.