The successful toboggan coach Norbert Loch is stepping down after the season. His successor Patric Leitner is looking forward to the task. He reports from the hospital.
The designated national toboggan coach Patric Leitner feels ready to succeed Norbert Loch. “I’m really excited, it’s going to be an exciting task. I’m ready,” said the Olympic luge champion. “This is a decision that wasn’t made overnight. I have a good team around me who all pull together.”
The 46-year-old is currently in hospital with a broken leg after a training accident. “I’m not feeling so well at the moment, I’m still in the hospital in Munich,” said Leitner. At the start of the new season, the Bayer will be Norbert Loch’s successor, and he is following in big footsteps. Loch and his team won 95 World Cup medals before the last two decisions in the title fights in Altenberg. “Norbert deserves his retirement. We all owe him a debt of gratitude. The whole team and I too,” said Leitner.
Loch wants to support his successor
Norbert Loch had confirmed in Altenberg that he would soon be retiring as national coach after his son Felix, the three-time Olympic champion, revealed his father’s upcoming step after his 21st World Cup medal with bronze in the single-seater. “It’s been a very, very long time. I want to hand over a well-functioning team to our new head coach when the season is over,” said the 61-year-old. The decision was actually made before winter. Norbert Loch has been the head coach of the German lugers since 2008.
Norbert Loch wants to support his successor “of course, but he will be at the front and lead the team. I think we have a good man in first place.” The then ex-national coach will work for the bobsleigh and sled sports association in Berchtesgaden in the future. “There is still plenty of work there.”
His successor Leitner and his partner Alexander Resch were Olympic champions in the doubles in 2002. The duo from Berchtesgaden won Olympic bronze again eight years later. The two lugers became doubles world champions a total of four times (1999, 2000, 2004 and 2007).
Source: Stern
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