Alex Gough Slides into Holiday Break with Luge Bronze

 PARK CITY, Utah—Canada’s Alex Gough slid to her third medal of the Olympic season after winning the bronze on Friday at a Luge World Cup in Park City, Utah.

Fighting her way down the 2002 Olympic Track in her opening run, the 26-year-old Gough relied on some feedback from her teammates and coaches to clean up her final blow down the slick chute to clock a two-run time of 1:27.889.

“I just seemed to be fighting it in a couple of spots on the first run, but I had good starts and a good second run so I was happy with that,” said the most successful Canadian luge athlete. “This is such a fun, flowy track and it is quick so I really like it here.”

Gough has enjoyed success in Park City. She was also third the last time the World Cup made a stop there in 2010-11 season. The third-place finish was the 14th World Cup medal of the two-time Olympians career in women’s singles racing.

“Overall I’m really happy with where I’m at,” said Gough. “I just need to build on what I’ve been doing. I want to maintain my strength, continue to have good starts and be in a good head space for the final four races after Christmas.”

Germany’s Natalie Geisenberger won the women’s race with a time of 1:27.628. Anke Wischnewski, also of Germany, placed second at 1:27.821.

Calgarians Kim McRae was 10th (1:28.135), Jordan Smith was 21st (1:28.777), and Arianne Jones was disqualified.

Earlier in the day, the men’s doubles team of Tristan Walker, of Cochrane, Alta., and Calgary’s Justin Snith, slid to eighth place with a time of 1:28.046.

Germany’s Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt won with a time of 1:27.326. Austria’s Andrea Linger and Wolfgang Ling claimed the silver medal at 1:27.488, while Germany’s Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken rounded out the podium in third place after stopping the clock at 1:27.547.

The World Cup continues on Saturday in Park City with the men’s singles race and team relay competition.

The Canadian Luge Association is a not-for-profit organization responsible for governing the sport of luge across the country. With the financial backing of from the Government of Canada, Canadian Olympic Committee and Own the Podium, the Canadian Luge Association safely recruits and develops the nation’s current and future high-performance luge athletes with the goal of regularly climbing onto the international podium. For more information on the Canadian Luge Association, please visit us at www.luge.ca on the Internet.

COMPLETE RESULTS: www.fil-luge.org
Women’s Top-Five and Canadian Results:
1. Natalie Geisenberger, GER, 1:27.628; 2. Anke Wischnewski, GER, , 1:27.821; 3. Alex Gough, Calgary, CAN 1:27.889; 4. Kate Hanson, USA, 1:27.992; 5. Dajana Eitberger, GER, 1:27.990
Other Canadian Results:
10. Kimberley McRae, Calgary, 1:28.135; 21. Jordan Smith, Calgary, 1:28.777; DSQ. Arianne Jones, Calgary

Top-Five Doubles and Canadian Results:
1. Wendl/Arlt, GER, 1:27.326; 2. Linger/Linger, AUT, 1:27.488; 3. Eggert/Benecken, GER, 1:27.547; 4. Rieder/Rastner, ITA, 1:27.685; 5. Oberstolz/Gruber, ITA, 1:27.748.
Canadian Results:
8. Walker, Cochrane, Alta./Snith, Calgary, 1:28.046