Felix Loch (German pronunciation: [ˈfeːlɪks ˈlɔx]; born 24 July 1989) is a German luger and Olympic champion. He has been competing since 1995 and on the German national team since 2006. He has won fourteen medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with twelve golds (Men's singles: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016; Men's sprint 2016: Mixed team event: 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2015, 2016) and two silvers (Men's singles: 2011, 2015). Loch's men's singles win in 2008 made him the youngest world champion ever at 18 years old. He is the youngest Olympic Gold Medalist in men's luge history.[3] As of 2022, Loch is a triple Olympic gold medalist.

Felix Loch
Loch in 2023
Personal information
Born (1989-07-24) 24 July 1989 (age 35)[1]
Sonneberg,[1] East Germany
Height1.91 m (6 ft 3 in)[1]
Weight90 kg (198 lb)
WebsiteFelixLoch.de
Sport
CountryGermany
SportLuge
EventSingles
ClubRC Berchtesgaden
Turned pro2006[1]
Coached byNorbert Loch
Patric Leitner
Georg Hackl[2]
Achievements and titles
Personal best153.98 km/h (95.68 mph)
Medal record
Men's luge
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place 2010 Vancouver Singles
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sochi Singles
Gold medal – first place 2014 Sochi Mixed team
World Championships
Gold medal – first place 2008 Oberhof Singles
Gold medal – first place 2008 Oberhof Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2009 Lake Placid Singles
Gold medal – first place 2009 Lake Placid Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2012 Altenberg Singles
Gold medal – first place 2012 Altenberg Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2013 Whistler Singles
Gold medal – first place 2013 Whistler Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2015 Sigulda Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2016 Königssee Singles
Gold medal – first place 2016 Königssee Sprint
Gold medal – first place 2016 Königssee Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2019 Winterberg Singles
Gold medal – first place 2023 Oberhof Sprint
Silver medal – second place 2011 Cesana Singles
Silver medal – second place 2015 Sigulda Singles
Silver medal – second place 2019 Winterberg Sprint
Silver medal – second place 2021 Königssee Singles
Silver medal – second place 2021 Königssee Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2019 Winterberg Team relay
Bronze medal – third place 2024 Alternberg Singles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place 2013 Oberhof Singles
Gold medal – first place 2013 Oberhof Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2015 Sochi Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2016 Altenberg Singles
Gold medal – first place 2016 Altenberg Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2021 Sigulda Singles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Sigulda Singles
Silver medal – second place 2018 Sigulda Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2023 Sigulda Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2012 Paramonovo Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2015 Sochi Singles
Bronze medal – third place 2021 Sigulda Mixed team
World Junior Championships
Gold medal – first place 2006 Altenberg Singles
Gold medal – first place 2006 Altenberg Mixed team
Gold medal – first place 2007 Cesana Singles
Gold medal – first place 2007 Cesana Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2008 Lake Placid Singles

Career

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At the 2008 FIL European Luge Championships in Cesana, Italy, he finished sixth in the men's singles event.

Previously he had won the 2006 Junior World Championship held in Altenberg, Germany. Loch is a member of the Club RC Berchtesgaden and currently lives at Schönau am Königssee though he was born in Sonneberg.

During International Training Week at the Whistler Sliding Centre in Whistler, British Columbia on 7–15 November 2008, Loch injured his shoulder during training. Bob- und Schlittenverband für Deutschland (BSD) Sport Director Thomas Schwab stated that Loch would compete at the opening Luge World Cup event at Igls, Austria on 29–30 November 2008 to which Loch did.[4]

On 21 February 2009, during the 2008-09 Luge World Cup season finale at Whistler Sliding Centre, Felix Loch recorded the fastest registered speed in luge, 153.98 km/h (95.68 mph).[5]

At the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, Loch again won the gold medal in men's Singles, marking his second consecutive Olympic victory,[6] and he was also in the German team which won gold in the inaugural team relay.

At the 2018 Winter Olympics, in the men's singles competition, Loch was a heavy favorite and indeed was leading the field after three runs, but in the last run made a mistake that cost him a medal. He ended in the fifth position.[7]

Luge results

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Olympic Games

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Event Age Singles Team relay
  2010 Vancouver 20 Gold
  2014 Sochi 24 Gold Gold
  2018 Pyeongchang 28 5th
  2022 Beijing 32 4th

World Championships

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  • 21 medals – (14 gold, 5 silver, 2 bronze)
Year Age Singles Sprint Team relay
  2008 Oberhof 19 Gold Gold
  2009 Lake Placid 20 Gold Gold
  2011 Cesena 22 Silver
  2012 Altenberg 23 Gold Gold
  2013 Whistler 24 Gold Gold
  2015 Sigulda 26 Silver Gold
  2016 Königssee 27 Gold Gold Gold
  2017 Innsbruck 28 6th 10th
  2019 Winterberg 30 Gold Silver Bronze
  2020 Sochi 31 9th 13th
  2021 Königssee 32 Silver 4th Silver
  2023 Oberhof 33 4th Gold
  2024 Altenberg 34 Bronze 4th

World Cup

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Season Singles Sprint Team relay Points Overall Singles Sprint
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 2 3 4 1 2 3 4 5 6
2006–07  
 
10
 
18
 
 
6
 
9
 
7
 
 
24
 
 
 
 
211 16th
2007–08  
5
 
10
 
8
 
12
 
4
 
 
7
 
15
 
3
 
 
 
297 6th
2008–09  
 
 
 
3
 
2
 
2
 
2
 
2
 
3
 
 
 
 
 
480 4th
2009–10  
4
 
4
 
1
 
3
 
9
 
17
 
7
 
2
 
 
1
 
1
 
 
484 3rd
2010–11  
1
 
4
 
3
 
4
 
5
 
1
 
1
 
2
 
14
 
 
 
 
1
 
1
 
658 2nd
2011–12  
1
 
1
 
2
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
4
 
1
 
3
 
 
1
 
2
 
1
 
1
 
3
815 1st
2012–13  
1
 
2
 
1
 
3
 
4
 
1
 
2
 
 
6
 
 
1
 
1
 
 
 
650 1st
2013–14  
3
 
1
 
4
 
1
 
5
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
 
1
 
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
3
685 1st
2014–15  
1
 
2
 
6
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
8
 
1
 
3
 
1
 
14
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
975 2nd
2015–16  
DSQ
 
6
 
3
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
6
 
3
 
1
 
1
 
 
 
1
 
2
 
1
 
940 1st
2016–17  
4
 
6
 
6
 
5
 
4
 
4
 
1
 
DNS
 
2
 
1
 
4
 
4
 
7
 
 
2
 
1
 
 
1
748 2nd
2017–18  
3
 
2
 
1
 
1
 
7
 
11
 
1
 
5
 
2
 
1
 
10
 
8
 
3
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
 
1
 
2
923 1st
2018–19  
6
 
2
 
4
 
5
 
10
 
9
 
1
 
7
 
8
 
3
 
8
 
4
 
2
 
1
 
 
3
 
 
2
685 3rd
2019–20  
6
 
12
 
2
 
3
 
15
 
27
 
5
 
 
4
 
13
 
4
 
 
3
 
2
 
4
 
 
 
1
482 7th
2020–21  
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
1
 
3
 
1
 
5
 
3
 
1
 
4
 
1
 
2
 
3
 
CNX
1095 1st 1st 1st
2021–22  
2
 
2
 
6
 
4
 
 
6
 
2
 
3
 
4
 
7
 
 
1
 
 
 
 
 
 
691 3rd 3rd 6th
2022–23  
15
 
1
 
2
 
4
 
2
 
3
 
3
 
2
 
7
 
 
3
 
3
 
1
 
2
 
 
 
 
767 2nd 1st 6th

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e "Felix Loch". FIL-Luge.org. Archived from the original on 16 July 2015. Retrieved 3 December 2010.
  2. ^ Harder, Wolfgang (May 2014). "All four gold medals go to the 'Sunshine Training Group'" (PDF). FIL Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 51. Berchtesgaden, Germany: International Luge Federation. p. 9. Retrieved 12 January 2019.
  3. ^ "German Felix Loch easily wins men's luge gold". Houston Chronicle. 14 February 2010. Retrieved 8 April 2010.
  4. ^ 20 November 2008 FIL-Luge.org article on Loch's shoulder injury during International Training Week at the Whistler Sliding Centre – accessed 21 November 2008.
  5. ^ David Möller realizes his first victory of the season. at the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (22 February 2009 article accessed 22 February 2009.)
  6. ^ "Felix Loch of Germany captures gold in luge again". USA Today. 9 February 2014. Retrieved 11 February 2014.
  7. ^ "Winter Olympics: David Gleirscher claims Austria's first luge gold in 50 years after Felix Loch error". BBC. 11 February 2018. Retrieved 11 February 2018.
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