Cesana (pps) „It’s great fun to watch him slide“, said Felix Loch of Germany. And then the youngest World luge champion of all times starts enthusing: “He’s got an optimum position on the sled, he takes every curve perfectly and his material is just right.” Well, Felix Loch is referring to Armin Zoeggeler of Italy, seven-times winner of the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup, five-time World and two-time Olympic champion.
Georg Hackl of Germany, three-time Olympic and three-time World champion himself, described Zoeggeler’s almost flawless runs as “a feast for the eyes”. Thomas Schwab, long-time head coach of the successful German team and now acting as Sports Director and Secretary General of the German Bobsleigh and Sled Sports Federation, BSD, said appreciatively: “Of all the present lugers he’s the one with the greatest potential”. And two-time World champion David Moeller of Germany, currently runner-up on the overall World Cup rankings with 30 points, reckoned: “Armin can hardly be defeated in his present shape.”
This is why the whole world of luge bows to the possibly best Armin Zoeggeler of all times. “I’ve probably never been better on the track than right now”, the highly praised luger himself explained. On the artificial track at Koenigssee last Saturday, the luger from South Tyrol celebrated his 35th birthday and gave himself a nice birthday present by claiming his 42nd individual success in the Viessmann Luge World Cup. As a special treat he was given a birthday cake. Now, Zoeggeler can relax and look forward to the next stop of the World Cup series on his home-track in Cesana.
So far, four events have been carried out there. And whether it was at the 2006 Olympic Games, the 2008 FIL European Championships or the two Viessmann Luge World Cup events: the winner was Armin Zoeggeler. But the father of two children rejects any notion of an “easy game”. “The German team headed by Moeller and Loch is applying a lot of pressure. And Russia’s Albert Demchenko – he claimed a silver medal at the Olympics – should never underestimated.“
Nevertheless, anything else than Zoeggeler’s 43rd success in the Viessmann Luge World Cup would be more than a great surprise. And an end of his winning streak is not yet in sight. The Carabiniere intends to continue his career until the 2011 FIL Luge World Championships on the said track in Cesana. Zoeggeler: “Being healthy and with the right motivation…”
National coach and Schwab’s successor Norbert Loch has no doubts about that. Asked about the difference between Zoeggeler and his competitors, Loch only answered: “He’s got it.” In other words: Armin Zoeggeler already knows by heart what other lugers still need to learn.
