World Champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken end impressive Luge Career

Erfurt (FIL/22 Aug. 2023) At a press conference in the Thuringian Ministry of Finance in Erfurt on Tuesday, August 22, World Champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken officially announced the end of their career. The duo, who dominated the doubles' luge world for years, will retire after an extraordinary career with eleven World Championship titles (5x in doubles, 2x in sprint and 4x in team relay).

Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken not only won the hearts of their fans, but also a record number of 54 World Cup races and 106 podium finishes in World Cup and Sprint World Cup events.

The duo from Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia wrote luge and sports history in the past years of their outstanding sporting career. At their home World Championships in Oberhof in January 2023, they once again proved their sporting excellence by winning three titles.

The two began their international journey together in 2010, celebrated their first World Cup victory at home in Oberhof on January 14, 2012 and quickly earned a reputation as an unbeatable double. Their extraordinary synergy on the sled helped them win two Olympic medals (silver at Beijing 2022 and bronze at PyeongChang 2018), six European Championship titles and 18 World Championship medals.

"It is time for a new chapter in our lives. We will hang the sled on the wall and move on to new challenges. We leave as 3-time World Champions. There is no better end to our active sports history. It is nice to be able to decide for ourselves when the time is right. We look back on countless beautiful races and moments. This is where it all began for us, where we laid the foundation for our careers in our respective home clubs and sports schools, and this is where we come full circle," said Toni Eggert." said Toni Eggert.

And Sascha Benecken added: "Out of 33 years of my life, I have dedicated 24 years to luge. Of course, this is a big step. If you think about it, there are almost only the infant and toddler years and then it started with luge. The last 13 years I spent with Toni - my teammate and friend for life. A jump like today feels like a farewell.

But most of all it is the gratitude to end our career with a success like the World Championships in Oberhof, in the place where it all started, in front of the people who are important to us and who love us".

The President of the International Luge Federation, Einars Fogelis, paid tribute to the achievements of Eggert and Benecken and emphasized the formative role they played in the sport of luge. "Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken have set standards and are sporting role models for future generations of luge athletes. Their professionalism and tireless dedication will remain unforgotten in the world of luge. We wish them all the best for the future".

"It is always sad when a successful athlete - in this case a doubles team - ends his career. Especially since we have five-time World champions in the team with Eggert/Benecken, who have dominated the last decade. I look at it with a little bit of sadness, but that's the reality. There is life after sport. I can only wish them that they will continue to be as successful in their professional and private lives as they have been as athletes," said head coach Norbert Loch.

Thuringia's Minister of Finance, Heike Taubert, who has been following the success story of the two athletes since she was a member of the board of the Thuringian Sports Youth in 2003, also considers the role models Eggert and Benecken to be outstanding: "Not only in sports, but also when it comes to the values of our society and the preservation of our democracy, Toni and Sascha are aware of their role as role models and have always used their charisma in the interest of young people in the Free State. I am deeply impressed by this commitment, which, like their sporting successes, deserves great respect and recognition.”

The President of the Luge and Bobsleigh Federation of Thuringia, Andreas Minschke, calls the doubles the luge team of the last decade. "We owe a lot to Toni and Sascha. They are our World Champions and they will always remain our heroes, even after their triple victory in Oberhof. They are and will remain the best role models for many generations of luge athletes from Thuringia, Germany and all over the world.”