Luge at the 1968 Winter Olympics – Women's singles

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Women's singles
at the X Olympic Winter Games
Luge pictogram.svg
Venue Villard-de-Lans
Dates11–13 February
Competitors26 from 10 nations
Winning time2:28.66
Medalists
Gold medal icon.svg Erika Lechner Flag of Italy.svg  Italy
Silver medal icon.svg Christa Schmuck Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany
Bronze medal icon.svg Angelika Dünhaupt Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany
  1964
1972  

The Women's singles luge competition at the 1968 Winter Olympics in Grenoble was held from 11 to 13 February, at Villard-de-Lans. [1] [2]

After three runs, there were three East German racers Ortrun Enderlein, Anna-Maria Müller and Angela Knösel in the top 4, but were disqualified when the FIL determined that they had been heating their runners, a banned practice. Italian Erika Lechner, third after three runs, was moved into first place, and won gold after the fourth run was cancelled due to bad weather.

West German media alleged race fixing, [3] while GDR sports officials blamed the West German Luge Association for staging the incident. [4] According to Stasi documents which came to light in 2006, the FIL official who made the decision had allegedly been bribed by the Federal Republic of Germany and Austria to make the allegation. [5] [6] The question of whether the GDR lugers really cheated remains unresolved, with some contemporary media in Germany maintaining that the GDR team were unfairly disqualified. [7]

Results

Rank [1] AthleteCountryRun 1Run 2Run 3Total
Gold medal icon.svg Erika Lechner Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 48.7649.3950.512:28.66
Silver medal icon.svg Christa Schmuck Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 49.1549.8450.382:29.37
Bronze medal icon.svg Angelika Dünhaupt Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 49.3449.8850.342:29.56
4 Helena Macher Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 49.5550.0250.482:30.05
5 Jadwiga Damse Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 49.6450.4350.082:30.15
6 Dana Beldová-Spálenská Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 49.2250.3650.772:30.35
7 Anna Mąka Flag of Poland (1928-1980).svg  Poland 49.6950.0550.662:30.40
8 Ute Gähler Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  West Germany 49.7849.9350.712:30.42
9 Leni Thurner Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 49.6450.1550.712:30.50
10 Marlene Korthals Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 49.7250.3151.302:31.33
11 Olina Hátlová-Tylová Flag of Czechoslovakia.svg  Czechoslovakia 50.1650.3551.142:31.65
12 Linda Crutchfield-Bocock Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 50.6450.5451.282:32.46
13 Berit Salomonsson Flag of Sweden.svg  Sweden 50.8951.3551.312:33.55
14 Kathleen Ann Roberts-Homstad Flag of the United States.svg  United States 50.6251.0451.942:33.60
15 Elfriede Wäger Flag of Austria.svg  Austria 51.9350.4452.042:34.41
16Ellen WilliamsFlag of the United States.svg  United States 51.6751.0952.392:35.15
17Sheila JohansenFlag of the United States.svg  United States 51.2151.9052.362:35.47
18Martha DiplockFlag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada 51.9451.5152.032:35.48
19 Sylvette Grassi Flag of France.svg  France 51.8552.0852.552:36.48
20 Jacqueline Barasinski Flag of France.svg  France 51.9652.3952.442:36.79
21 Erica Prugger Flag of Italy.svg  Italy 61.9050.9151.402:44.21
- Ortrun Enderlein Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 48.7449.3449.96DQ
- Anna-Maria Müller Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 48.8849.2649.92DQ
- Angela Knösel Flag of the German Olympic Team (1960-1968).svg  East Germany 49.1249.6550.16DQ
-Cristina PabstFlag of Italy.svg  Italy  ?DNF--
- Phyllis Walter Flag of Canada (Pantone).svg  Canada DQ---

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References

  1. 1 2 "Rapport Officiel Xes Jeux Olympiques D'Hiver 1968 Grenoble" (PDF). Comité d'organisation des Xemes jeux olympiques d'hiver. LA84 Foundation. 1968. Retrieved 20 January 2014.
  2. "Luge at the 1968 Grenoble Winter Games: Women's Singles". Sports Reference. Archived from the original on 18 April 2020. Retrieved 3 April 2020.
  3. Der Spiegel 19 February 1968: DDR-Mannschaft: Graue Perlen.
  4. Gesellschaft zur Förderung des Olympischen Gedankens in der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik: X. Olympische Winterspiele Grenoble 1968. Sportverlag, Berlin, 1968, p. 31 et seq. and p. 165.
  5. Friedhard Teuffel: Schnee, der auf Kufen schmilzt.
  6. MDR: Betrug auf Kufen? – Der Skandal 1968 in Grenoble.
  7. Rodel-Olympiasiegerin Müller tot (Focus). , Gestorben: Anna-Maria Müller (Spiegel)