The countdown to the 23rd FIL Luge World Championships on natural track is on. The title fights with athletes from over 20 countries will be held from February 4th to 7th in Umhausen (AUT). To help you to get in the Championships-mood in good time, we continuously present the participating countries here in the Nations check.

Austria (AUT)

The “Grantau”-track in Umhausen is Thomas Kammerlander's sovereign territory. The local hero knows this track like no other. A week before his 30th birthday on February 13th, “Kammi” wants to win the long-awaited World Champion-title in the men’s single. At the 2017 World Championships in Vatra Dornei (ROU) he was World Champion in the team competition. His fiercest rival comes from his own camp: Michael Scheikl is leading in the overall World Cup standing, the reigning European Champion is by fact a man for major events with six medals so far. The performance in the doubles of the comebackers Christoph Regensburg/Dominik Holzknecht and the young and wild Fabian Achenrainer/Simon Achenrainer, who celebrated their first victory in the World Cup in Passeier, is also eagerly awaited. With Tina Unterberger (bronze medal 2017 and 2019) and Michelle Diepold (Junior World Champion 2016), the hosts also have two medal contenders in women’s single.

Italy (ITA)

The team around defending champion Alex Gruber has high expectations: At the World Championships 2019 in Latzfons (ITA), all gold medals went to the "Azzurri". Gruber is aiming for his third World Champion title, but he is actually searching for his best shape. The veteran Patrick Pigneter is always ready for a win. The 2009, 2013 and 2015 World Champion in men’s single is competing with partner Florian Clara also in doubles, where the defending champions secured gold medals in 2009, 2013, 2015 and 2019. In the women's single the main favorite is Evelin Lanthaler, the series winner in the World Cup and defending champion is reaching for her third gold medal after 2015 and 2019. Only in 2017 the 29-year-old was defeated by her teammate Greta Pinggera, who on the “Grantau“-track also belongs to the group of medal contenders.

Russian Luge Federation (RLF)

The team of the Russian Luge Association not only has one of the largest World Cup squads in terms of numbers, but also repeatedly proves the “competition gene” at major events. An example? Jurii Talykh moves rather inconspicuously in the World Cup, but at the 2017 World Championships he surprisingly won the silver medal. The case is similar with his team-mate Aleksandr Egorov, who became vice-European Champion in 2020 in Moscow (RUS). In addition, the lugers from Russia are always very strong in the team competition. Ekatarina Lavrenteva is the record World Champion with a total number of four titles so far (Olang 2000, Latsch 2005, Grande Prairie 2007, Deutschnofen 2013). In doubles Pavel Porshnev/Ivan Lazarev have already achieved five World Cup victories on the „Grantau“-track, 10 years ago at the World Championships 2011 in Umhausen, Porshnev/Lazarev won their first gold medal. Because of the sanctions imposed by the IOC, Russia is competing in Umhausen under the flag of the Russian Luge Federation RLF.

Germany (GER)

Germany is pushing for the podium: With Lisa Walch (reigning junior World Champion), Sarah Schiller and Sara Bachmann, the team around national coach Thomas Niemetz has built a powerful trio that is in the top ten in the overall standings. Germany already has a podium finish this season: Sarah Schiller and Oliver Schiller finished third in the team competition in Winterleiten.
 

Ukraine (UKR)

The lugers from Ukraine have shown an impressive development in recent years. A committed team was formed around the brothers Ivan and Myroslav Lenko. Lenko/Lenko in the past were known as a risk-taking double that was always good for a crash. In the meantime, the music-loving brothers hardly make any serious mistakes, in the World Cup ranking Lenko/Lenko are fifth. Anastasiya Slyusar/Myroslav Lenko took fourth place at the team competition dress rehearsal at the World Cup in Passeier (ITA). Viktoriia Antonyuk completes the quartet from Lviv in the west of the country, which ranks sixth behind Germany and Poland in the national ranking.

Slovenia (SLO)

Mekina is THE name in the Slovenian luge team. Blaz Mekina and Bine Mekina commute back and forth between the Junior World Cup and FIL World Cup, in the doubles they are among the worlds best among the juniors. Nusa Subic, Nika Nemec and Matevz Vertelz also gain experience in both the juniors and the World Cup. At the World Championships in Umhausen (AUT), Slovenia can be competitive in the team competition. For Mekina/Mekina and Vertelz it is the second World Championships participation, they already were competing in Latzfons (ITA) in 2019.

Poland (POL)

Poland has a strong World Cup team. Because the long-standing team leader Adam Jedrzejko is unable to go abroad this season, the 19-years-old Julia Plowy has put on the captain's armband. At the 2019 World Championships in Latzfons (ITA), Plowy finished sixth in the team competition with Jedrzeijko and Szymon Jan Majdak. Klaudia Natalia Promny and Paulina Lipinska will also be at the title fights in Umhausen. Majdak and Sylwester Rom Jadwiszczok will compete in the doubles.

Canada (CAN)

Canada is not a cleanskin in luge on natural track, after all, the 2007 World Luge Championship on natural track took place in Grande Prairie (CAN) in the state of Alberta. The best local hero at the time was John Gibson in 16th place, Melissa Jones was eleventh in the women's singles. At the 2021 World Championships in Umhausen (AUT), two young girls want to follow the footsteps of their role models: Bailey Stonham and Nadia Loder. The final of the Junior World Cup in Jaufental (ITA) at the end of January is the dress rehearsal for the two 16-year-olds.

United States

The lugers on natural track in the USA are preparing for the upcoming races in Negaunee, Michigan. As in 2019 in Latzfons (ITA), two 16-year-olds want to jump on the World Cup train: Henry Anderson and Torrey Cookman. There is a question mark behind her start at the title fights in Umhausen (AUT) because of the global corona pandemic.

New Zealand

With Jack Leslie, New Zealand is a real luge legend: In 2016, Leslie won the Junior World Cup on the Seiser Alm (ITA), it was the first victory of a luger from Oceania at a FIL competition, and the 23-year-old surprised on fifth position at the 2017 World Championships in Vatra Dornei (ROU). Team New Zealand has plenty of offspring: Sam Flanagan (17), Benjamin Voice (16) and Flyn Coburn (16) have already gained World Cup experience. Leslie had to skip the 2019 World Championships in Latzfons (ITA) due to a serious injury, while Voice made his Championships debut there.
 

Croatia (CRO)

The team from Croatia is a one-woman show this winter: Patricija Urbanc. Despite her tender age of 17 years, the student is already one of the veterans in luge on natural track. In 2019 at the World Championships in Latzfons, Urbanc came 19th in the women’s single. Urbanc finished ninth in the team competition together with Vedran Boban and Nikola Boban. At the World Championships in Umhausen (AUT), Patricija Urbanc is the only participant from the country of the 2018 soccer vice World Champions.

Romania (ROU)

The team from Romania suffered a bitter setback before the start of the 2020/2021 season. Due to the global corona pandemic, the planned World Cup in Vatra Dornei has been relocated to Laas (ITA). The race in the important centre for winter tourism in the Carpathian Mountains would have been the dress rehearsal for the World Championships in Umhausen (AUT). At the 2019 title fights in Latzfons (ITA), Romania finished 8th in the team competition with Maria Cristina Ciubotaru, Bogdan Morosan and Ioana Magdalena Ismana.

Turkey (TUR)

Turkey's World Cup squad is a sworn troop. Isa Güzeloglu, a veteran who was already there at the 2017 World Cup in Vatra Dornei (ROU), sets the route. Together with Yusuf Öszcan, Güzeloglu will also be at the start in the doubles. Aybüke Büyükpolat and Emrecan Özcan complete the team from Turkey, which finished the team competition in seventh place at the 2017 World Championships.

India (IND)

Two athletes from the Indian subcontinent are planning their World Cup debut in 2021. The 25-year-old Nalin Chaturvedi and the 24-year-old Rohit Thakur actually wanted to compete in a few World Cups before the World Championships, but nothing came of it. Now planning is in full swing so that the two newcomers can make it to Umhausen in time despite the corona pandemic.

Serbia (SRB)

A total of four athletes from Serbia will start at the 23rd FIL World Luge Championships on natural track in Umhausen. Team leader is Nina Stanic. The 22-year-old is studying tourism and hospitality in Slovenia, and at the 2019 World Cup in Latzfons (ITA), she and Luka Novakovic celebrated her greatest success in the team competition as tenth. 14-year-old Lazar Mikic celebrated his World Cup debut in Passeier, while 15-year-old Jana Milenovic is contesting her second World Cup season.

Czech Republic (CZE)

With Tomas Hasek and David Rydl, the Czech Republic is sending two aspiring athletes to the World Championships in Umhausen. Hasek, the responsible for the natural track area at his home club Dukla Liberec, is in top form this winter. At the start of the season in Winterleiten (AUT) in December he celebrated his best World Cup result so far in 13th place. Hasek/Rydl will also start in the doubles, the two students (biochemistry/economics) finished the 2019/2020 season in seventh place in the overall double ranking.

Brazil (BRA)

Brazil is competing at the World Championships in Umhausen (AUT) with a big squad. Leonardo de Oliveira and Julio Dante de Morales are already competitive starters at the FIL Luge World Cup in the men’s singles. The two 22-year-olds want to compete in the doubles for the first time at the World Championships. Giovana Gomes da Rocha is the newcomer of the team, with the 18-year-old the “Seleção” can also compete in the team competition. De Oliveira competed in both the 2017 World Championships in Vatra Dornei (ROU) and 2019 in Latzfons (ITA), while it is the first World Championships for his two teammates. 

Kazakhstan (KAZ)

The Kazakhs are one of the youngest World Cup teams. The average age of Valeriia Selkova (20), Karolina Nagovitsyna (16), Elizaveta Aleksandrova (14) and Dimitri Khasanov (15) is 16.25 years. Last season, Selkova finished twelfth three times in the FIL Luge World Cup on natural track. Due to the global corona pandemic, the start of the athletes from Kazakhstan at the 2021 World Cup has not yet been confirmed.

France (FRA)

France is firmly in the hands of women: Charlotte Roche has held up the tricolor for years. For the 19-year-old 2021 are the first World Championships, two years ago in Latzfons (ITA) Roche was not at the start due to an injury. For study reasons, the experienced Daphne Vanhoutte is not competing this year. Reinforcements are in place: Rookie Remi de Ternay is still gaining the necessary experience with the juniors, the 2021 World Championships comes too early for the 15-years-old from Lyon.

Argentina (ARG)

The “Rookie of the year” 2019 is part of the World Cup squad from Argentina: Renzo Atance Conde. The architecture student experienced his first title fights at the 2019 World Championships in Latzfons (ITA). Together with Ramiro Barrios and the experienced team leader Tamara Fissore, he finished the team competition in an excellent seventh place. Because of the global corona pandemic, the Argentinians' participation in the 2021 World Championships is not yet comfirmed.

Switzerland (SUI)

With Jerome Almer, the Swiss have probably the toughest luger in the World Championships. The 22-year-old likes to make the pre-race track inspection in a T-shirt, even in freezing temperatures. „No problem down to minus 10 degrees Celsius, if it's colder, then better not“, says the physics and astronomy student at the University of Bern. At the World Cup in Winterleiten 2020, he achieved his best result so far by finishing tenth this winter. The Swiss will probably also send Marco Almer to the title fights in Umhausen (AUT). Jerome Almer is a coach in the karate club in his home town Wilderswil. He also supports the coaches in the FIL group, the developement scheme of the International Luge Federation, as an “athlete coach”.

Great Britain

Woman power from Great Britain for the World Championships: Kelly Sophie Gwilliams and Chelsea Leigh Matlock already have experience with major events, both of them competed at the European Championships in Moscow (RUS) in 2020. At the 2019 World Championships in Latzfons (ITA), Gwilliams just missed the top 10 in eleventh place in the team competition together with Samuel Budd and Joshua Reeves. In Umhausen 2021, Alison Ball will support the two athletes of the Royal Airforce Gwilliams and Matlock. 

For further information about the 23rd FIL Luge World Championships on natural track please visit www.rodelbahn-grantau.at/23-fil-wm.html