Boise, Idaho/USA (pps) Venezuelan-born Werner Hoeger, one of the most enigmatic characters among the “exotic” lugers, will end his active career. After a crash during the International Training Week on the future Olympic track in Whistler, Canada, at the beginning of November the professor emeritus and author announced his retirement.
Werner Hoeger, who will celebrate his 56th birthday on December 15, represented his home country of Venezuela at the Olympic Games in Salt Lake City as well as Torino and earned a 40th place (2002) and 32nd place four years later. The former gymnast who now lives in Boise in the US state of Idaho, also competed in the FIL Luge World Championships in Calgary (Canada) in 2001, at the 2004 Worlds in Nagano (Japan), in 2005 in Park City and 2007 in Igls (Austria).
The father of five children has authored numerous fitness and wellness college textbooks and has earned a reputation especially in the United States. His son Christopher David, married to Argentina’s luger Michelle Despain-Hoeger, also competed in the 2002 Olympic Games.
