YOG 2012 was a springboard for many lugers

West is the first YOG competitor to win a Viessmann World Cup

Berchtesgaden (RWH)  The first generation of athletes to compete in the YOG are now taking center stage in the Viessmann World Cup. The inaugural Youth Olympic Games (YOG) 2012 in Innsbruck marked the start of many talented lugers’ international careers. Just two years after the YOG première in Tyrol, 11 up-and-coming lugers from the YOG starting field took part in the Winter Olympics. Another two years later, the one-time YOG competitors are now making it onto the podium in the Viessmann World Cup.

Summer Britcher (photo left), who won gold with the US quartet in the team relay in Innsbruck, ended up on the top step of the podium twice in Park City, taking victory in the Viessmann World Cup before going on to win the BMW Sprint World Cup 24 hours later. Now 21, Britcher won silver at the U23 World Championships in 2015, which were won by Russian Ekatarina Katnikova who had finished seventh at the Youth Games in 2012.

Despite her tender years, YOG winner Miriam Kastlunger (AUT / Photo left at the Medals Ceremony 2012) ) is now a major player in her national team, as are Italian luger Andrea Vötter and Olena Stetskiv from the Ukraine in their national squads. And Victoria Demchenko, who had a disastrous outing in Innsbruck in 2012 when she finished last, is preparing to follow in the illustrious footsteps of her father and three-time Olympic silver medallist Albert Demchenko. Having attended the Olympic Games as a forerunner, Victoria went on to claim silver at the Junior World Championships in 2015.

Tucker West, who was part of the victorious US quartet in the team relay in 2012, has created the biggest stir of all first-generation YOG competitors. In winter 2014/2015 the blonde-haired luger became the first YOG athlete to win a Viessmann World Cup when he clinched victory on his home track in Lake Placid. West went on to finish second in the World Cup at Lake Placid this season. Austrian luger Armin Frauscher won bronze in the team relay in Innsbruck with the red, white and red squad and took his maiden podium finish with second place at the 2015/2016 season opener. YOG silver medallist Kristens Rozitis from Latvia secured silver at the U23 World Championships in 2015.

The 2012 gold medallists are even putting in strong showings in the most demanding discipline of all: the doubles. Florian Gruber and Simon Kainzwalder won silver at the U23 World Championships in 2015.

By contrast, Saskia Langer of Germany called time on her career due to a lack of opportunities, but she will be on hand in Lillehammer as an Ambassador for the German team. Gold medallist Christian Paffe has not yet made it onto the World Cup team, but German head coach Norbert Loch holds the 21-year-old athlete from the Sauerland in high regard. Of the doubles pairing of Tim Brendel/Florian Funk who won two silver medals in Innsbruck (in doubles and team relay), only helmsman Brendel is still competing. He is trying his luck with new partner Markus Schmid and has had some outings in the Nations Cup.