Game, set, and match for Michael Scheikl. The Austrian proved unbeatable at the 25th World Championships in Natural Track Luge in Kühtai (AUT), securing his first-ever World Champion title in the men's singles. Until Sunday, World Championship gold had been missing from the 35-year-old's impressive track record.
World Champion 2025 Michael Scheikl (AUT)
Kühtai (FIL/19.01.2025) A day of celebration for the hosts at the championship event on the natural luge track "Kühtai." Favourite Michael Scheikl (AUT) clocked the best time in all three runs on the 730-metre track. Under the roaring applause of the large crowd, he claimed the title with a total time of 2:48.03 minutes, earning his first World Champion title. Daniel Gruber (ITA) secured the silver medal, finishing 1.32 seconds behind, while luge legend Patrick Pigneter (ITA, +1.66) took third place. Scheikl has now completed his personal success story, adding the long-coveted World Championship gold medal to his European Championship title in 2020, his overall World Cup victory in 2020/2021, and his 10 World Cup wins to date. At the finish line, Scheikl was overcome with emotion. "I'm lost for words; I truly don't know what to say – a childhood dream has come true." For silver medallist Daniel Gruber, this is his first World Championship medal: "I wasn't expecting a medal, especially after my performance in training. The race just went perfectly." Meanwhile, Patrick Pigneter bid farewell to the big stage of the World Championships with a bronze medal: "This was definitely my last World Championship. To stand on the podium one last time is wonderful," said the record World Champion, who has three singles titles to his name.
(from left) Daniel Gruber (ITA), Michael Scheikl (AUT) and Patrick Pigneter (ITA)
Lanthaler makes luge history
Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) in action at the "Kühtai" track
In the women's singles, Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) etched her name into the history books of luge sports. With a total time of 2:51.79 minutes, the defending champion claimed her fifth World Championship title in singles, surpassing Ekaterina Lavrenteva (RUS, 4) on the all-time list. "I'm overjoyed because the pressure was immense. My main goal was to successfully defend the title – and I did it," Lanthaler said in the winner's interview. Local hero Riccarda Ruetz (AUT) took the silver medal, 1.11 seconds behind. She was 0.04 seconds faster than Lanthaler in the second run. For the 2024 Junior World Champion, it was her first medal in the senior category: "I could hear the fans cheering as I raced, and that gave me extra motivation. Winning a medal on my home track is simply indescribable." With a spectacular third run, Jenny Castiglioni (ITA, +2.31) jumped from fifth place the previous day to the podium, claiming the bronze medal. "I didn't expect this at all. I was already happy just to have qualified internally for the World Championships. In the third run, I just raced without overthinking," said the 19-year-old.
The Ruetz and Castiglioni families continue to grow their medal collections: Riccarda's father, Helmut Ruetz, was World Champion in doubles in 1998 in Rautavaara (FIN) with his brother Andreas. Jenny Castiglioni’s mother, Renate Kasslatter, won bronze at the 2009 World Championships in Moos in Passeier (ITA), while her father, Andreas Castiglioni, was vice-world champion in singles in 2005 in Latsch (ITA).
(from left) Riccarda Ruetz (AUT), Evelin Lanthaler (ITA) and Jenny Castiglioni (ITA)
Italy triumphs in team event
In the final team event, Italy (Lanthaler/Gruber) emerged victorious with a total time of 1:56.50 minutes, ahead of Austria (Ruetz/Scheikl) at 1:57.26 minutes and Germany (Lisa Walch/Simon Dietz) at 2:00.00 minutes.
Medal Table (4/4)
1. Italy: 3/1/3
2. Austria: 1/3/0
3. Germany: 0/0/1
The FIL Natural Track Luge World Cup continues next weekend with the fourth World Cup event in Mariazell (AUT).
