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Max Langenhan Claims First Olympic Luge Gold With Record-Breaking Run in Cortina

Max Langenhan finally has the one prize missing from his glittering résumé. The 26-year-old German crowned himself Olympic champion in men’s singles luge after a weekend of relentless speed and composure on Cortina’s newly built ice track.

A stiff neck did little to slow Max Langenhan. After already smashing two track records on Saturday, he returned on Sunday with even greater authority. A blistering third run of 52.705 seconds set yet another record, before a closing run of 52.660 sealed gold in emphatic fashion. His four-run total of 3:31.191 minutes underlined the dominance of the six-time world champion, who was greeted at the finish by the entire German team and his girlfriend in scenes of celebration.

Silver went to Austria’s Jonas Müller, who finished 0.596 seconds adrift, while Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller delighted the home crowd by claiming bronze, 0.934 seconds behind the winner.

Pre-event favourite Felix Loch was left to rue an error in the opening run on Saturday that dropped him to eighth overnight. Despite a steadier second day, the veteran could only claw back to sixth overall, posting a combined time of 3:33.051 minutes. Germany’s third entrant, Timon Grancagnolo, ended the competition in ninth with 3:33.492.

There was a moment of concern away from the podium when luge legend Georg Hackl, now head coach of the Austrian team, suffered a shoulder injury after a fall on the track. The 59-year-old required hospital treatment but was able to return later in the evening to oversee the final runs.

Attention now shifts to the women’s singles, which begin on Monday evening with the first two runs. Germany will be represented by Anna Berreiter, Merle Fräbel and Julia Taubitz as the luge programme continues at a venue that has already produced historic performances.