Updated:2008-06-18 12:51 | Source:beijing2008
Nagano, Asakawa, 9 February 1998: Georg HACKL from Germany, 1st, in action in the singles luge event during the XVIII Olympic Winter Games. Credit: Getty Images/BRUNSKILL Clive |
Other names: GEORG HACKL, G. Hackl
Born: 9 September 1966
Birthplace: Berchtesgaden (Germany)
Nationality: Germany
Sport: Luge
ATTENDANCE AT THE OLYMPIC GAMES
Calgary 1988
Albertville 1992
Lillehammer 1994
Nagano 1998
Salt Lake City 2002
Turin 2006
AWARDS
Olympic medals:
Gold: 3
Silver: 2
Other results:
World Championships
Gold: 9 (88 - 95, 96, 97, 99 - 03)
Silver: 8 (90 - 97, 00 - 01, 03, 04)
Bronze: 2 (98 - 00)
The Greatest Lugist
Georg Hackl is the only luger to have won medals at five consecutive Olympics in singles luge. At the 1988 Calgary Games, Hackl finished second to fellow German Jens M徂ller. Because Hackl had trouble with his start, a start range was built for him at the K?nigssee luge course near his home in Berchtesgaden.
The increased practice paid off as Hackl won the gold medal at the 1992 Albertville Olympics by defeating Marcus Prock of Austria in the closest men's singles competition in 24 years. The repeat duel between Hackl and Prock at the 1994 Olympics was even closer. Hackl won again, but the contest was so close that if the four runs had been a single race, he would have won by less than 35 centimetres after 5.6 kilometres of sliding.
At the 1998 Nagano Games, Hackl survived a protest against his new, aerodynamically advanced yellow booties to earn a third gold medal. In so doing, he became only the sixth person in the history of the Winter Olympics to win the same individual event three times.
At the Salt Lake City Games in 2002, Hackl barely edged Prock once again, but this time both of these veterans were beaten by Armin Z?ggeler of Italy. Still, Hackl brought his Olympics medal total to three golds and two silvers. Although injured for part of the season and aged 40, in 2006 in Turin, Georg Hackl participated in his 6th Olympic Games and placed 7th.
(Credit: IOC. Click here for further information.)