Ninth in Vancouver 2010, ninth in Sochi 2014, ninth in Peyongchang – Wolfgang Kindl’s Olympic yield read quite monotonously. Until yesterday. Then the luger raced to silver in the Yanqing ice track. The Tyrolean was only 0.16 seconds short of gold winner Johannes Ludwig (D), bronze went to the South Tyrolean Dominik Fischnaller (+0.951). The other Austrians – Nico (12th) and David Gleirscher (15th) – had nothing to do with the decision.
“I have so many to thank right now”, said a Kindl, moved to tears, who had not expected this Olympic happy ending. After two world championship titles in 2017 on his home track in Igls, he lost contact with the top due to a herniated disc. “I’ve often thought about quitting”said the 33-year-old.
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This was not lost on the top of the association. “Wolfgang has two or three tough years behind him”, said ÖRV President Markus Prock, who himself has two Olympic silver medals at home. The 57-year-old is all the more pleased that it has finally worked out for Kindl.
“I was missing that”, said Kindl, beaming with joy, who, with a height of 1.66 meters, does not have the right qualifications for luge. Ludwig (1.87) and Fischnaller (1.83) are more than a head taller than him. The lower range is a disadvantage, especially when starting.
self isolating
Kindl sent greetings to his wife Elena, who experienced the great moment at home in Nattern in front of the television. He hadn’t seen his wife, who was a junior luger herself, for weeks. Because in order not to risk a corona infection before the games, Austria’s tobogganists had gone into self-isolation in holiday apartments. A sacrifice that paid off after the first competition.
Austria’s 23rd luge medal
In the history of the Olympics, the artificial track lugers are among the most reliable red-white-red medal collectors. They now hold six gold, nine silver and eight bronze. Since 1992, the ÖRV aces have written to all games.
There could be more in Beijing. “We’ve shown throughout the season that we can be at the front of the field anywhere”Kindl referred to Madeleine Egle and the doubles Thomas Steu/Lorenz Koller and the relay, in which he himself will be part.
Two podium places have also been set as a goal by the association. Thanks to Kindl, not only half the battle is already done, but “the pressure is now off for the rest of the team”, according to Prock. From today (12.40 live on ORF 1) it starts for the women.
Source: Nachrichten
