FIBT World Championships 2009

Last updated
2009 World Championships
FIBT-FIL WC 2009 logo.png
Location Lake Placid, New York
DatesFebruary 20-March 1

The FIBT World Championships 2009, officially known as the Bauhaus FIBT Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships, February 20 to March 1, 2009, at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Lake Placid, New York, for the ninth time, doing so previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983, 1997 (skeleton), and 2003 (men's bobsleigh). Lake Placid was chosen 25–11 over Igls, Austria.

Contents

Event preparations

Local schools were involved in a "Scholastic Sliding Challenge" (SSC) as part of the FIL World Luge Championships that was held in early February 2009. [1] This program was developed at the 2007 World Luge Championships in Igls, then carried over to last year's World Luge Championships in Oberhof, Germany. [1] 22 schools participated in the Lake Placid area that involved over 4000 students. [1] The track was iced down on October 6, 2008, the earliest it has ever been iced in preparation for both the FIBT and FIL championships. [2] Local media coverage was provided by WSLP-FM 93.3 in neighboring Saranac Lake. [3] Online coverage in the United States was provided by Universal Sports. [4]

World Cup champions prior to the championships

As of February 15, 2009, the top three final World Cup positions were as follows (note: in bobsleigh, only the driver is shown):

DisciplineLeaderSecondThird
Bobsleigh men's combined [5] Flag of Russia.svg  Russia - Alexandre Zoubkov Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland - Beat Hefti Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - André Lange
Bobsleigh two-man [6] Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland - Beat Hefti Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - Thomas Florschütz Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - André Lange
Bobsleigh four-man [7] Flag of Russia.svg  Russia - Alexandre Zoubkov Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia - Janis Minins Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States - Steven Holcomb
Bobsleigh two-woman [8] Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - Sandra Kiriasis Flag of Germany.svg  Germany - Cathleen Martini Flag of the United States (23px).png  United States - Shauna Rohbock
Men's skeleton [9] Flag of Russia.svg  Aleksandr Tretyakov  (RUS)Flag of Germany.svg  Frank Rommel  (GER)Flag of Germany.svg  Florian Grassl  (GER)
Women's skeleton [10] Flag of Germany.svg  Marion Trott  (GER)Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Shelley Rudman  (GBR)Flag of the United States.svg  Katie Uhlaender  (USA)

Bobsleigh

Two-man

February 21–22, 2009, at 08:30 EST (13:30 UTC) for the last two runs. The eventual silver medalists from Germany had the fastest first run, but the Swiss duo of Rüegg and Grand had the fastest times for the remaining three runs. Three-time and defending champion André Lange of Germany finished fifth. [11]

PosTeamTime
GoldFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland II (Ivo Rüegg, Cédric Grand)3:42.20
SilverFlag of Germany.svg  Germany I (Thomas Florschütz, Marc Kühne)+0.22
BronzeFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States I (Steven Holcomb, Curtis Tomasevicz)+0.40

Four-man

February 28 – March 1, 2009. The United States had the fastest time in each of the four runs to win their first bobsleigh gold medal at the World championships since 1959. [12] This was Latvia's first ever medal at the championships while five-time and defending champion Lange of Germany would finish second. [13]

PosTeamTime
GoldFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States I (Steven Holcomb, Justin Olsen, Steve Mesler, Curtis Tomasevicz)3:36.61
SilverFlag of Germany.svg  Germany II (André Lange, Alexander Rödiger, Kevin Kuske, Martin Putze)+ 0.97
BronzeFlag of Latvia.svg  Latvia I (Jānis Miņins, Daumants Dreiškens, Oskars Melbārdis, Intars Dambis)+ 1.00

Two-woman

February 20–21, 2009. The Canadian duo of Kaillie Humphries and Heather Moyse led after the first run while Rohbock/Meyers led after the second run before the British team of Minichiello/Cooke had the fastest third and fourth runs. Three-time defending champion Sandra Kiriasis of Germany finished seventh. [14]

PosTeamTime
GoldFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  United Kingdom I (Nicola Minichiello, Gillian Cooke)3:48.22
SilverFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States I (Shauna Rohbock, Elana Meyers)+0.38
BronzeFlag of Germany.svg  Germany II (Cathleen Martini, Janine Tischer)+0.62

Skeleton

Men

February 27–28, 2009. The second run was cancelled after 20 skeleton racers had completed to irregular track conditions. [15] Pengilly came from 15th after the first run to earn the silver medal. [16] It was also Stähli's third gold medal which he earned on his 41st birthday. [17]

PosAthleteTime
GoldFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Gregor Stähli  (SUI)2.46.58
SilverFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Adam Pengilly  (GBR)+0.35
BronzeFlag of Russia.svg  Aleksandr Tretyakov  (RUS)+0.51

Women

February 26–27, 2009. Trott set the track record in the first run and had the fastest time in all three runs. [18] [19] The final run was plagued with heavy rainfall and strong winds up to 50 mph (85 km/h). [20] It was Williams' first world championship medal.

PosAthleteTime
GoldFlag of Germany.svg  Marion Trott  (GER)3:47.97
SilverFlag of the United Kingdom.svg  Amy Williams  (GBR)+0.59
BronzeFlag of Germany.svg  Kerstin Szymkowiak  (GER)+0.64

Mixed team

February 22, 2009. The mixed team event consisting of one run each of men's skeleton, women's skeleton, 2-man bobsleigh, and 2-women bobsleigh debuted at the 2007 championships. Germany had the fastest times in the first and third runs to win its third straight mixed team championship. [21]

PosTeamTime
GoldFlag of Germany.svg  Germany (Frank Rommel, Sandra Kiriasis, Patricia Polifka, Marion Trott, Thomas Florschütz, & Andreas Barucha)3:45.41
SilverFlag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg  Switzerland (Gregor Stähli, Sabrina Hafner, Anne Dietrich, Maya Pedersen, Ivo Rüegg, & Cédric Grand)+0.24
BronzeFlag of the United States (23px).png  United States (Eric Bernotas, Shauna Rohbock, Valerie Fleming, Katie Uhlaender, Steven Holcomb, & Justin Olsen)+0.25

Medal table

RankNationGoldSilverBronzeTotal
1Flag of Germany.svg  Germany  (GER)2226
2Flag of Switzerland (Pantone).svg   Switzerland  (SUI)2103
3Flag of the United Kingdom.svg  Great Britain  (GBR)1203
4Flag of the United States.svg  United States  (USA)1124
5Flag of Latvia.svg  Latvia  (LAT)0011
Flag of Russia.svg  Russia  (RUS)0011
Totals (6 entries)66618

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References

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  2. 41st FIL World Championships in Lake Placid. at the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (October 6, 2008, article accessed October 17, 2008.)
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  20. Trott Takes Bauhaus FIBT Women's Skeleton Championship at the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing
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