Luge is a winter sport featured at the Winter Olympic Games where a competitor or two-person team rides a flat sled while lying supine (face up) and feet first. The sport is usually contested on a specially designed ice track that allows gravity to increase the sled's speed. The winner normally completes the route with the fastest overall time. It was first contested at the 1964 Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's events and a doubles event. Doubles is technically considered an open event since 1994, but only men have competed in it.[1][2][3] German lugers (competing under the IOC country codes of EUA, GDR, FRG and GER at different times since 1964) have dominated the competition, winning 81 medals of 141 possible.
| Luge at the Winter Olympics | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Governing body | FIL |
| Events | 4 (men: 1; women: 1; mixed: 2) |
| Games | |
EventsEdit
| Event | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Men's singles | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 16 | ||||||||
| Doubles | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 16 | ||||||||
| Women's singles | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 16 | ||||||||
| Team relay | • | • | • | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total events | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 |
Medal leadersEdit
Georg Hackl of Germany is the most successful singles Olympic luger, having won three gold medals attained in three consecutive Olympics.
Armin Zöggeler is the only athlete to have won one medal in a single individual event in six Olympics (furthermore consecutive).
Athletes who won at least two gold medals or three medals in total are listed below.
| Athlete | NOC | Event | Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Armin Zöggeler |  Italy (ITA)
|
Men's singles | 1994–2014 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Natalie Geisenberger |  Germany (GER)
|
Women's singles Team relay |
2010–2018 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 5 |
| Georg Hackl | West Germany (FRG) Germany (GER)
|
Men's singles | 1988–2006 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Tobias Arlt | Germany (GER)
|
Doubles Team relay |
2014–2018 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Tobias Wendl | Germany (GER)
|
Doubles Team relay |
2014–2018 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 |
| Jan Behrendt |  East Germany (GDR) Germany (GER)
|
Doubles | 1988–1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Stefan Krauße | East Germany (GDR) Germany (GER)
|
Doubles | 1988–1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Klaus Bonsack |  United Team of Germany (EUA) East Germany (GDR)
|
Men's singles Doubles |
1964–1972 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Felix Loch | Germany (GER)
|
Men's singles Team relay |
2010–2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Köhler | United Team of Germany (EUA) East Germany (GDR)
|
Men's singles Doubles |
1964–1968 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Paul Hildgartner | Italy (ITA)
|
Men's singles Doubles |
1972–1988 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Andreas Linger |  Austria (AUT)
|
Doubles | 2006–2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Wolfgang Linger | Austria (AUT)
|
Doubles | 2006–2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Hans Rinn | East Germany (GDR)
|
Men's singles Doubles |
1976–1980 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Silke Kraushaar | Germany (GER)
|
Women's singles | 1998–2006 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Tatjana Hüfner | Germany (GER)
|
Women's singles | 2006–2014 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Albert Demchenko |  Russia (RUS)
|
Men's singles Team relay |
1994–2014 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Markus Prock | Austria (AUT)
|
Men's singles | 1984–2002 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Andris Šics |  Latvia (LAT)
|
Doubles Team relay |
2006–2014 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Juris Šics | Latvia (LAT)
|
Doubles Team relay |
2006–2014 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Norbert Hahn | East Germany (GDR)
|
Doubles | 1976–1980 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Steffi Martin | East Germany (GDR)
|
Women's singles | 1984–1988 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sylke Otto | Germany (GER)
|
Women's singles | 1992 2002–2006 |
2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
Medal tableEdit
Updated after 2018 Winter Olympics.[4]
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Germany (GER) | 18 | 10 | 9 | 37 |
| 2 | East Germany (GDR) | 13 | 8 | 8 | 29 |
| 3 | Italy (ITA) | 7 | 4 | 6 | 17 |
| 4 | Austria (AUT) | 6 | 8 | 8 | 22 |
| 5 | United Team of Germany (EUA) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | West Germany (FRG) | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 7 |  Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 8 |  United States (USA) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 9 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Latvia (LAT) | 0 | 1 | 3 | 4 |
| 11 |  Canada (CAN) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| Totals (11 nations) | 48 | 46 | 47 | 141 | |
Note: two gold medals handed in the 1972 doubles competition.
Number of lugers by nationEdit
| Nation | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Argentina (ARG) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
 Australia (AUS) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Austria (AUT) |
9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 15 | |||||||||
 Bermuda (BER) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) |
2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Brazil (BRA) |
2 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Bulgaria (BUL) |
3 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Canada (CAN) |
1 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 15 | |||||||||
 Chinese Taipei (TPE) |
2 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
 Croatia (CRO) |
1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Czech Republic (CZE) |
2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| Czechoslovakia (TCH) |
6 | 6 | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| East Germany (GDR) |
8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Estonia (EST) |
1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 France (FRA) |
5 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 Georgia (GEO) |
2 | 2 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Germany (GER) |
10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 Great Britain (GBR) |
2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 13 | |||||||||||
 Greece (GRE) |
2 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 India (IND) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA) |
1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| Italy (ITA) |
7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 15 | |||||||||
 Japan (JPN) |
7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 12 | ||||||||||||
 Kazakhstan (KAZ) |
1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Latvia (LAT) |
6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 Liechtenstein (LIE) |
3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
 Moldova (MDA) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 4 | ||||||||||||||||||||
 Netherlands Antilles (AHO) |
1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 New Zealand (NZL) |
1 | 1 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Norway (NOR) |
4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 3 | 8 | ||||||||||||||||
| Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) |
8 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Philippines (PHI) |
1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Poland (POL) |
8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 11 | |||||||||||||
 Puerto Rico (PUR) |
1 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
 Romania (ROU) |
4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 11 | |||||||||||||
| Russia (RUS) |
8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Slovakia (SVK) |
2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
 Slovenia (SLO) |
1 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 South Korea (KOR) |
3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
| Soviet Union (URS) |
7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
 Spain (ESP) |
4 | 1 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Sweden (SWE) |
5 | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
 Switzerland (SUI) |
9 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 9 | |||||||||||||||
 Tonga (TGA) |
1 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
 Ukraine (UKR) |
3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | |||||||||||||||||
| Unified Team (EUN) |
10 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United Team of Germany (EUA) |
9 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
| United States (USA) |
9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 15 | |||||||||
 Venezuela (VEN) |
1 | 4 | 1 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
 Virgin Islands (ISV) |
1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | 5 | |||||||||||||||||||
| West Germany (FRG) |
8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | 6 | ||||||||||||||||||
 Yugoslavia (YUG) |
3 | 2 | 2 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | ||
| Lugers | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 68 | 85 | 83 | 94 | 80 | 81 | 90 | 89 | 92 | 93 | 110 | 108 | 110 | 108 | 110 | ||
| Year | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | |
See alsoEdit
ReferencesEdit
- List of Olympic medalists in luge from the IOC. - accessed 17 February 2010.
- Specific
- ^ "Luge". Australian Olympic Committee. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "Women & the Winter Olympics". topend sports. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "Qualification Systems for XXIII Olympic Winter Games, PyeongChang" (PDF). fil-luge.org. Retrieved February 16, 2018.
- ^ "Olympic Analytics - Medals by Countries". olympanalyt.com. Retrieved 2022-01-31.
External linksEdit
Media related to Luge at the Olympics at Wikimedia Commons