Andreas Linger

Last updated

Andreas Linger
Andreas Linger - Team Austria Winter Olympics 2014 (cropped).jpg
Linger in 2014
Medal record
Men's luge
Representing Flag of Austria.svg  Austria
Olympic Games
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2006 Turin Men's doubles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Vancouver Men's doubles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2014 Sochi Men's doubles
World Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2003 Sigulda Men's doubles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011 Cesana Men's doubles
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2012 Altenberg Men's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2003 Sigulda Mixed team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2013 Whistler Men's doubles
World Cup Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2011–12 Men's doubles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2010–11 Men's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2004–05Men's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2007–08 Men's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2008–09 Men's doubles
European Championships
Gold medal icon (G initial).svg 2010 Sigulda Men's doubles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2008 Cesana Men's doubles
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2008 Cesana Mixed team
Silver medal icon (S initial).svg 2010 Sigulda Mixed team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2004 Oberhof Men's doubles
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2004 Oberhof Mixed team
Bronze medal icon (B initial).svg 2014 Sigulda Men's doubles

Andreas Linger (born 31 May 1981 in Hall in Tirol) is an Austrian former luger who competed internationally since 2000. He and his younger brother Wolfgang began luging at a very young age, and did their first doubles run when they were 14. Linger has won five medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with three golds (Men's doubles: 2003, 2011 and 2012) and two bronzes (Mixed team: 2003 and men's doubles: 2013). He also earned seven medals at the FIL European Luge Championships with a gold (Men's doubles: 2010), three silvers (Men's doubles: 2008, Mixed team: 2008, 2010), and three bronzes (Men's doubles: 2004 and 2014, Mixed team: 2004). The Lingers were overall Luge World Cup men's doubles champions in 2011-12 and scored 15 World Cup race victories. [1] They were two time Olympic champions in the men's doubles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy and the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. They won in 2006 despite Wolfgang having broken his leg in a luge crash the previous year. In 2010, they successfully defended their gold medal against another team of brothers, Andris and Juris Šics of Latvia. [2]

Contents

Athletic career

Introduction to luge

Andreas competed in a number of sports as a child, including skiing and soccer. He was ten years old when he tried an artificial Iuge track for the first time, on a track that had been used for Olympic events in 1964 and 1976. His brother was one of the few other members of their local luge club who tried it. Even at that young age, Andreas did not think of Iuge as being a particularly dangerous sport. Five years later, when they were both 14, they were allowed to try doubles Iuge for the first time. Despite competing as individuals or in mixed doubles in some events, the Wolfgang and Andreas have seen their most significant success as a doubles team. [3]

2002–2004

The Linger brothers placed 8th in the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City, Utah. [4] Their runs were relatively consistent, at 43.330 seconds and 43.354 seconds, but they would still trail their countrymen Tobias and Markus Schiegl. [5] By the following, season, however, the Lingers challenged the Schiegls as the best doubles luge team in Austria, beating the latter at the inaugural Krombacher Challenge Cup and setting a course record there. [6]

2006 Winter Olympics

Linger's brother Wolfgang was injured when he and his brother crashed in an Olympic test run in 2005, breaking the ankle and fibula in Wolfgang's left leg. Only a year after the crash, Linger and his brother competed in their second Winter Olympics, the 2006 Games in Turin, Italy. The doubles competition there saw crashes by three different teams, one of which resulted in a Ukrainian competitor being taken to a hospital in an ambulance. As a result, the event was described in the media as being 'plagued' by crashes. The Lingers managed to win the gold medal, defeating defending 2002 champions André Florschütz and Torsten Wustlich of Germany. [4]

2010 Winter Olympics

The Linger brothers entered the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada defending their 2006 gold medal and as strong favorites to be medal contenders. Controversy surrounded the luge competitions at the 2010 Games following the death of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili in a crash during a training run prior to the opening of the Games. After Kumaritashvili's death, changes were made in the ice profile of the turn where he crashed, padding was added to support columns like the one he hit, and the start of the doubles competition was moved up to what had previously been the junior start. This meant that competitors only had six training runs on the altered course in which to develop an entirely new strategy for their runs. After the first run, the Linger brothers led their closest competitors, brothers Andris and Juris Šics of Latvia, by a razor-thin margin of .088 seconds. However, they expanded their lead in the second run, winning the gold medal by a cumulative .264 seconds. Their victory prevented the German team at the Games from sweeping all three luge medals, as German competitors had previously won both the men's and women's singles events. [2] Linger told reporters after the victory that it had been more difficult than the medal in Turin four years earlier, given the pressure of being defending champions and the favorite to win. [7]

2014 Winter Olympics

The Linger brothers were unable to make it a hat-trick of golds at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, finishing second to the German duo of Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, whose lead of .522 seconds over the Lingers was the largest winning margin in the history of the Olympic doubles competition. However the silver medal made them the second most successful pairing in Olympic doubles luge, behind Stefan Krauße and Jan Behrendt. [8] Less than six weeks later the Linger brothers announced their retirement from the sport. [1]

Personal life

Linger lives in Absam, Austria, and serves in the Austrian army. [9]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Georg Hackl</span> German luger (born 1966)

Georg Hackl, often named Hackl Schorsch, is a German former luger who was three time Olympic and World Champion. He is known affectionately as Hackl-Schorsch or as the Speeding Weißwurst, a reference to what he looks like in his white bodysuit coming down the luge at fast speeds.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Mārtiņš Rubenis</span> Latvian luger

Mārtiņš Rubenis is a retired Latvian luger who competed between 1998 and 2014. He won the bronze medal at the men's singles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, becoming the first Latvian to win a medal at the Winter Olympics and the only one fr He won his second bronze medal at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in the Team Relay event. In total he competed in five Olympics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Wolfgang Linger</span> Austrian luger (born 1982)

Wolfgang Linger is an Austrian former luger who competed internationally since 2000. As young children, he and his older brother Andreas learned to luge on a former Olympic luge track, and at age 14 began competing as a doubles team for the first time. Linger has won five medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with three golds and two bronzes. He also earned seven medals at the FIL European Luge Championships with a gold, three silvers, and three bronzes. The Lingers were overall Luge World Cup men's doubles champions in 2011-12 and scored 15 World Cup race victories. In 2005, he broke his leg in a crash, but the next year at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy won the gold medal in doubles luge. He repeated this feat at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada, defeating another team of brothers, Andris and Juris Šics of Latvia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">André Florschütz</span> German luger (born 1976)

André Florschütz is a German luger who competed from 1993 to 2010. Together with Torsten Wustlich, he won the silver medal in the men's doubles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gerhard Plankensteiner</span> Italian luger

Gerhard Plankensteiner is an Italian former luger who competed from 1986 to 2010. Together with Oswald Haselrieder he won the bronze medal in the men's doubles event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alexander Resch</span> German luger (born 1979)

Alexander Resch is a German former luger who competed from 1998 to 2010. Together with Patric Leitner, he won the men's doubles event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. They also competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, finishing sixth. At their last race at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, they won bronze.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Patric Leitner</span> German luger (born 1977)

Patric-Fritz Leitner is a German former luger who competed from 1998 to 2010. Together with Alexander Resch he won the men's doubles event at the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City. They also competed at the 2006 Winter Olympics, finishing sixth. At the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, they won bronze in their last race.

Tobias Schiegl is an Austrian former luger who competed from 1993 to 2010. He won fourteen medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with five golds, five silvers, and four bronzes. He competes in doubles with his older cousin Markus.

Markus Schiegl is an Austrian former luger who has competed from 1987 to 2010. He won fourteen medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with five golds, five silvers, and four bronzes. Schiegl competes in doubles with his younger cousin Tobias.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobias Arlt</span> German luger (born 1987)

Tobias Arlt is a German luger, acting as a backdriver. He won a silver medal in the men's doubles event at the 2008 FIL World Luge Championships, a silver and a bronze at the 2010 FIL European Luge Championships, a gold medal at the FIL World Luge Championships 2013, and two gold medals at his debut Olympics, the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tobias Wendl</span> German luger

Tobias Wendl is a German luger who has competed since 1993, acting as a front. He won a silver medal in the men's doubles event at the 2008 FIL World Luge Championships in Oberhof, Germany, a silver and a bronze at the FIL European Luge Championships 2010 in Sigulda, a gold at the FIL World Luge Championships 2013, and two gold medals at his debut Winter Olympics at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi. He is also a Master Sergeant in the German Army.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Whistler Sliding Centre</span> Bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada

The Whistler Sliding Centre is a Canadian bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in Whistler, British Columbia, that is 125 km (78 mi) north of Vancouver. The centre is part of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, which comprises two ski mountains separated by Fitzsimmons Creek. Located on the lowermost slope of the northern mountain, Whistler Sliding Centre hosted the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton competitions for the 2010 Winter Olympics.

The luge competition events of the 2010 Winter Olympics were held between 13 and 17 February 2010 at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada.

The men's luge at the 2010 Winter Olympics took place on 13–14 February 2010 at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia. Germany's Felix Loch was the two-time defending world champion and won the gold medal with the fastest time in each of the four runs. The test event that took place at the venue was won by Germany's David Möller, who would win the silver medal in this event. Italy's Armin Zöggeler was the two-time defending Olympic champion and won a bronze medal in this event. The last World Cup event prior to the 2010 games took place in Cesana, Italy on 30 January 2010 and was won by Zöggeler, who also won the overall World Cup title.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Luge at the 2010 Winter Olympics – Women's singles</span>

The women's luge at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada took place on 15–16 February at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia. Germany's Sylke Otto was the two-time defending Olympic champion. Otto retired midway through the 2006-07 season in January 2007 to pregnancy and after suffering a crash at the track in Königssee, Germany. Erin Hamlin of the United States was the defending world champion. The test event that took place at the venue was won by Germany's Natalie Geisenberger. The last World Cup event prior to the 2010 games took place in Cesana, Italy on 31 January 2010 and was won by Geisenberger. Geisenberger's teammate Tatjana Hüfner, the defending Olympic bronze medalist, won the overall World Cup for 2009-10 season in women's singles.

The doubles luge event at the 2010 Winter Olympics was held on 17 February at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia. Twenty teams participated. Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger, the defending Olympic and European champions, won the gold medal. The silver medal was also won by a pair of brothers, Andris and Juris Šics of Latvia. Germans Patric Leitner and Alexander Resch clinched the bronze medal after edging out Italians Christian Oberstolz and Patrick Gruber, who were in third place after the first run.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Nodar Kumaritashvili</span> Georgian luge athlete (1988–2010)

Nodar Kumaritashvili was a Georgian luge athlete who suffered a fatal crash during a training run for the 2010 Winter Olympics competition in Whistler, British Columbia, Canada, on the day of the opening ceremony. He became the fourth athlete to die during preparations for a Winter Olympics, and the eighth athlete to die as a result of Olympic competition or during practice at their sport’s venue at an Olympic Games.

This article contains a chronological summary of major events from the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, Canada.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Miriam Kastlunger</span> Austrian luger

Miriam-Stefanie Kastlunger is an Austrian luger. She represented Austria at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi in women's and team relay competitions. In the women's singles, she finished 17th. In the team relay, together with Wolfgang Kindl and Andreas Linger / Wolfgang Linger (double), she became 7th.

References

  1. 1 2 "Linger brothers retire after missing 3rd luge gold". Yahoo! Sports . 30 March 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  2. 1 2 "Luge: Linger brothers retain luge doubles crown". Agence France-Presse. Vancouver 2010. 17 February 2010. Archived from the original on 18 February 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  3. ↑ "Andreas Linger – Biography". Vancouver 2010. NBC. Archived from the original on 31 January 2010. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  4. 1 2 "Luge: Austrian brothers win accident-plagued doubles luge". New York Times. 15 February 2006. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  5. ↑ Official Report of the 2002 Winter Olympics, Volume 3 (PDF). International Olympic Committee. 2002. p. 156. Archived from the original (PDF) on 20 February 2012.
  6. ↑ "Zwei österreichische Siege bei Challenge-Cup-Auftakt". News.at (in German). 13 December 2002. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
  7. ↑ "Linger/Linger wiederholen ihren Olympiasieg von Turin und holen Österreichs 1.Goldmedaille in Vancouver". Austrian Olympic Committee (in German). 16 February 2010. Archived from the original on 5 September 2012. Retrieved 17 February 2010.
  8. ↑ "Wendl-Arlt dethrone Linger-Linger". International Luge Federation . 12 February 2014. Retrieved 29 November 2014.
  9. ↑ Maidment, Neil (17 February 2010). "Gold medallists Andreas & Wolfgang Linger". Reuters. Yahoo! Sports. Retrieved 18 February 2010.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.