Reid Watts Matches Career-Best World Championship Luge Result in Eighteenth

KONIGSSEE, Ger.—Canada’s Reid Watts saved his best performance of the season when it counted the most, sliding to 18th spot in the men’s singles Luge World Championship race in Konigssee, Germany on Saturday.

Watts, an Olympian from Whistler, B.C., threw down the 16th-fastest opening run. He was flying in his second trip down the 16-corner track but dropped a couple of spots in the standings after a mistake at the bottom section of his run.

The 22-year-old matched his career-best finish at the World Championships after sliding to a two-run time of 1:39.122.

“Today was a real bittersweet type of race. We showed we had some good pace in the first run, but a big mistake in the second run threw away a chance at a really strong result,” said Reid, who missed out on the Under-23 podium by .002.

“Coming up just short on that bronze medal in the U23 race stings a lot, but will fuel the fire for sure coming into the offseason.”

Russia’s Roman Repilov successfully defended his World Championship title in the men’s singles race, winning with a time of 1:37.810. Germany’s Felix Loch settled for the silver with a time of 1:37.872. Austria’s David Gleirscher slid to the bronze medal with a time of 1:38.027.

In the World Championship doubles race, Tristan Walker and Justin Snith were in 12th place after the first run but crashed in the final heat and did not finish.

Germany’s Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken were crowned doubles World Champions with a time of 1:39.931.

The World Championships wrap up on Sunday in Konigssee with the women’s singles and team relay races.

Complete World Championship Results: 

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