An Olympic sport since Innsbruck
1964, Luge means sled, in French.
Quick Links
Luge, Luge Links, Olympic Greats.
There are three events in the Olympics: singles Men, singles Women
and the mixed doubles.
Luge Singles
In the singles, the times of the four runs are added together to
determine the winner. The event is held over two days, with competitors making two runs
each day.
Men and women sled down the same track, although the women's start is
lower down.
Luges Doubles
The doubles event takes place on one day only and just two runs are
made; with the times of the two runs added together to determine the winner.
Although there's nothing in the rules to say that the double be of the
same sex, more often than not it's two men who ride down together; with the larger one
lying on top of the smaller; to help the aerodynamics.
German-born Georg Hackl is the only luger to have won medals at
five consecutive Winter Olympics in the singles luge: silver in Calgary 1988; gold in Albertville
1992, Lillehammer 1994 and Nagano 1998 (with his new, aerodynamically advanced yellow
booties) and silver in Salt Lake City 2002.
Italian luger, Armin Zoeggeler, took part for the first time in the
Winter Olympic Games at the age of twenty; sliding down third in Lillehammer 1994.
Zoeggeler started to put pressure on Germany's Georg Hackl by
finishing second to him in Nagano 1998, before beating
him to gold in Salt Lake City 2002. The Italian
then repeated his win, on home soil, in Turin 2006; to
become the only athlete from Italy to win four consecutive Olympic medals.
Germany's Stefan Krausse and Jan Behrendt are the only double sliders
to earn medals in four Olympics: silver in Calgary 1988,
gold in Albertville 1992, bronze in Lillehammer 1994 and their second gold medal in Nagano 1998.
     
International Luge Federation:
All the latest news on Luge, from the sport's governing body -- the FIL (Fédération
Internationale de Luge de Course). Be warned, the pages load slower than a luge with an
elephant on it.
Luge Athletes:
Search the database to find out more about the Olympic sliders.
Luge Canada:
Explore the Luge Track at Calgary's Olympic Park or find out more about the Canadian luge
athletes.
USA Luge:
The United States Luge Association.
Luge.
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