Tobogganing
Fall in the doubles: Eitberger’s exit at the start of the World Cup
Tobogganer Diana Eitberger experienced a painful mishap at the start of the World Cup. Her new doubles partner tells how the former world champion is doing.
Former world champion Dajana Eitberger (33) fell at the start of the season with her new toboggan partner Magdalene Matschina (19) in Lillehammer. On the 1994 Olympic track, the two-seater duo had a mishap in turn 13 in the first run. “This is very, very bitter. A bitter pill that we have to swallow right now,” said former individual world champion Eitberger.
Partner Matschina gives the diagnosis
“I’m fine. But Dayana has a few small aches and pains,” said Matschina and announced: “Get up and carry on.” Things continue next week in Innsbruck-Igls. In her second season as a double-seater luger, Eitberger continues towards Olympic qualification in 2026. “I keep trying to remind myself that this is a marathon and not a sprint ” she said after her spectacular fall.
Three and a half years after the birth of her son and the change of her partner, things are set to continue to improve for the athlete who has been so successful in singles. With Saskia Schirmer, Eitberger won gold in the team relay at the home World Championships in Altenberg in her first season as a double-seater luger and also celebrated a World Cup victory in Oberhof in February. Still, she wasn’t satisfied.
“I saw my skins floating away last winter and unfortunately Saskia and I couldn’t develop together as I would have liked,” Eitberger was quoted in the separation announcement: “And if I be successful and also my career in doubles If I want to continue, then I need a partner who ultimately wants the same thing as me and will give the last shirt for it.”
German duo in second place
At the start in Norway, Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal were only beaten by the victorious Americans Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirby, 0.017 seconds behind. The two teammates are the main rivals of Eitberger and Matschina, as there will probably only be one starting place per nation in the women’s doubles at the 2026 Olympics.
dpa
Source: Stern
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