Felix Loch

Felix Loch (German pronunciation: [ˈfeːlɪks ˈlɔx]; born 24 July 1989) is a German luger and Olympic champion. He has been competing since 1995 and has been on the German national team since 2006. He has won fourteen medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with twelve golds (Men's singles: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016; Men's sprint 2016: Mixed team event: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) and two silvers (Men's singles: 2011, 2015). Loch's men's singles win in 2008 made him the youngest world champion ever at 18 years old. He is the youngest Olympic Gold Medalist in men's luge history.[3] As of 2014, Loch is a triple Olympic gold medalist.

Felix Loch
Loch in 2018
Personal information
Born (1989-07-24) 24 July 1989[1]
Sonneberg,[1] East Germany
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
WebsiteFelixLoch.de
Sport
CountryGermany
SportLuge
Event(s)Singles
ClubRC Berchtesgaden
Turned pro2006[1]
Coached byNorbert Loch
Patric Leitner
Georg Hackl[2]
Achievements and titles
Personal best(s)153.98 km/h (95.68 mph)

Career

At the 2008 FIL European Luge Championships in Cesana, Italy, he finished sixth in the men's singles event.

Previously he had won the 2006 Junior World Championship held in Altenberg, Germany. Loch is member of the Club RC Berchtesgaden and currently lives at Schönau am Königssee though he was born in Sonneberg.

During International Training Week at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia on 7–15 November 2008, Loch injured his shoulder during training. Bob- und Schlittenverband für Deutschland (BSD) Sport Director Thomas Schwab stated that Loch would compete at the opening Luge World Cup event at Igls, Austria on 29–30 November 2008 to which Loch did.[4]

On 21 February 2009, during the 2008-09 Luge World Cup season finale at Whistler Sliding Centre, Felix Loch recorded the fastest registered speed in luge, 153.98 km/h (95.68 mph).[5]

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Loch again won the gold medal in men's Singles, marking his second consecutive Olympic victory,[6] and he was also in the German team which won gold in the inaugural team relay.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, in the men's singles competition Loch was a heavy favorite and indeed was leading the field after three runs, but in the last run made a mistake which cost him a medal. He ended in the fifth position.[7]

References
  1. "Felix Loch". FIL-Luge.org. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  2. Harder, Wolfgang (May 2014). "All four gold medals go to the 'Sunshine Training Group'" (PDF). FIL Magazine. Vol. 1 no. 51. Berchtesgaden, Germany: International Luge Federation. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  3. "German Felix Loch easily wins men's luge gold". Houston Chronicle. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  4. November 20, 2008 FIL-Luge.org article on Loch's shoulder injury during International Training Week at the Whistler Sliding Centre – accessed 21 November 2008.
  5. David Möller realizes his first victory of the season. at the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (22 February 2009 article accessed 22 February 2009.)
  6. "Felix Loch of Germany captures gold in luge again". USA Today. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  7. "Winter Olympics: David Gleirscher claims Austria's first luge gold in 50 years after Felix Loch error". BBC. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
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