By Canadian Press

Austria defends women’s doubles title at luge world championships

Feb 7, 2025 | 6:33 PM

WHISTLER, B.C. — Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp claimed their second straight women’s doubles title Friday at the luge world championships in Whistler, B.C.

The pair broke the track record with their first run, speeding down in 38.858 seconds and claiming gold with a two-run time of one minute 17.724 seconds.

Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal set yet another record with their second run of the day, getting down the track in 38.806 seconds, and finished second with a combined time 0.029 seconds behind the Austrians.

Fellow Germans Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina came in third, while Canadians Beattie Podulsky and Kailey Allen finished eighth.

On the men’s side, Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Constantin Gubitz of Germany took gold with a two-run time of 1:16.538.

Latvia’s Martins Bots and Roberts Plume finished 0.102 back for the silver medal, and Germany’s Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt came in third.

Canada’s Devin Wardrope and Cole Anthony Zajanski came 12th among the 18 sleds from 10 nations.

The world championships continue Friday with the women’s singles competition before the men’s singles and team relay races take place on Saturday.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 7, 2025.

Gemma Karstens-Smith, The Canadian Press