Igls (pps) Armin Zoeggeler has come full circle last weekend on the 1976 Olympic track at Igls, Austria. The then 14-year-old Italian natural track luger had his first contacts with the artificially-iced tube at the foot of Patscherkofel mountain in 1988. 16 years later the 2002 Olympic champion achieved the 2004 Viessmann Luge World Cup title prematurely at Igls, of all places.

“This title means a lot to me, particularly on this track”, Zoeggeler said. Though the 30-year-old started luging at Igls, he has never won on that track. “It simply does not suit me.”

But one week prior to the 2003-2004 Viessmann Luge World Cup final next weekend at Koenigssee, Germany, Zoeggeler proved to be the most consistent luger for the fourth time since 1998, 2000 and 2001. His record also includes the 2002 Olympic gold medal at Salt Lake City, four World titles and – for the first time in his career – the 2004 European title. Germany’s Georg Hackl, the three time Olympic and World champion, says appreciatively and without any envy: “Armin is the best luger of present times.”

But the policeman from Lana Foiana is still hungry for success. “It is my goal in the coming years to become the record World Cup champion”, says the man with the silver helmet (“my trademark). So far, Zoeggeler can boast 25 World Cup wins, eight are still missing for the record. Zoeggeler takes his time to realise this ambitious goal: “I shall continue my career at least until the 2006 Olympic Winter Games in Turin.”

Italy’s first artificially-iced track (Cortina d’Ampezzo was a natural track at the beginning) is currently built at Cesana, near Turin. Zoeggeler had a first glimpse at the new track last autumn on the occasion of a media event of the Italian national team. “You couldn’t see much yet”, Zoeggeler confessed. The 2004 World Cup champion will know more in exactly one year: On the occasion of the Olympic test events for the 2006 Games at Cesana.