St. Moritz (pps) Germany’s Tatjana Huefner once more demonstrated that she is in a class of her own. Two weeks before the 43rd World Championships of the Internation Luge Federation (FIL) in Altenberg (February 10-12, 2012) the Olympic and three-time World Champion took the podium’s top spot at the Viessmann Luge World Cup in St. Moritz with a leading margin of 0.867 seconds ahead of teammate Natalie Geisenberger.
With Anke Wischnewski and Corinna Martini on third and fourth place respectively, Germany celebrated a quadruple success in the women’s singles. Local hero Martina Kocher finished in fifth position, as she did in 2007 in Oberhof, her career’s best result so far.
At the seventh of nine stops in the Luge World Cup series, 28-year-old Huefner posted her third victory this season. At the same time this is her 31st individual World Cup success. Record winner is the former two-time Olympic Champion Sylke Otto of Germany (gold medal in 2002 and 2006) with a total of 37 individual World Cup victories to her credit.
Canadian luger Alex Gough, who won the World Cup event in Calgary, did not compete in St. Moritz. Together with the Canadian team the 2011 World bronze medallist is training on the World Championship track in Altenberg.
Huefner extended her lead in the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup rankings. With now 640 points she is clearly ahead of teammates Geisenberger (550) and Wischnewski (450).
Quotes
Tatjana Huefner
(GER / 2010 Olympic and three-time World Champion)
“The good set-up of my sled and my good start today were decisive. I’m well prepared for the upcoming Worlds. I love the track here in St. Moritz, the atmosphere, just everything...”
Natalie Geisenberger
(GER / Olympic bronze medallist and three-time World runner-up)
"I’m happy with second place. But I’m not happy at all with the mistake in the first run. That was absolutely unnecessary. Of course the gap to first place is way too big. Anyway, it’s not yet decided who’ll win at the World Championships in Altenberg.”
