German quartet in golden finale

Sochi (RWH) The German quartet of Julia Taubitz, Johannes Ludwig and Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken have claimed gold in the team relay at the 49th World Championships of the International Luge Federation (FIL) 2020 in the Russian city of Sochi. With the exception of last year, when Russia won the title in Winterberg, the German squad has won every gold medal in the team relay since it was introduced in 2008. Silver in Sanki Sliding Center went to the team from Latvia. The US team claimed a surprise bronze medal.

Hot favourites and defending champions Russia were disqualified because World Champion Ekaterina Katnikova missed the touch pad on the first changeover. Roman Repilov and the doubles duo of Aleksandr Denisev and Vladislav Antonov were forced to sit out the remainder of the competition. Despite this, the host nation was the most successful national association at the World Championships, claiming five gold medals from seven races. Germany won two golds – in the team relay and Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken in the doubles.

Latvia secured silver in the end with Kendija Aparjode, Kristers Aparjods and Andris Sics/Juris Sics. The Latvian team had previously won bronze at the 2014 Olympics in Sanki Sliding Center. The US team featuring Summer Britcher, Tucker West and the doubles pairing of Chris Mazdzer/Jayson Terdiman took bronze ahead of Italy (Andrea Vötter, Dominik Fischnaller and Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner) and Austria (Madeleine Egle, Jonas Müller and Yannick Müller/Armin Frauscher).