Georg Hackl

Georg Hackl

Georg Hackl during competition at Oberhof, Germany in 2005.
Personal information
Nickname(s) Hackl-Schorsch
Nationality German
Born (1966-09-09) 9 September 1966[1]
Berchtesgaden,[1] Bavaria,
 West Germany
Residence Bischofswiesen,[1] Bavaria
Height 1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)[2]
Weight 79 kg (174 lb)[2]
Sport
Country  Germany
Sport Luge
Event(s) Men's singles, Men's doubles
Club RC Berchtesgaden[2]
Coached by Germany Josef Lenz
Retired 2006

Georg Hackl (born 9 September 1966) is a German former luger who was three time Olympic and World Champion. He is known affectionately as Hackl-Schorsch or as the Speeding Weißwurst a reference to what he looks like in his white bodysuit coming down the luge at fast speeds.

Hackl was born in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria. He took up luge as part of his physical education lessons whilst at school, learning to slide at the Königssee track.[3]

Hackl was known for his rivalry with Markus Prock, with Prock being dominant in World Cup competition whilst Hackl consistently achieved success at the Winter Olympics. Although Hackl was not as natural an athlete as Prock, he was noted as being extremely skilled at setting up his sled to suit particular ice conditions on a given day. In addition his coach and former luger Thomas Schwab highlighted Hackl's mental strength as being key to his success.[3]

He won his first Winter Olympic Games luge medal in 1988 in Calgary, when he finished second in the singles event, while placing fourth in the doubles. Four years later, he improved his performance to win the gold, a feat he repeated in 1994 and 1998. In 1998, he won the gold by clocking the fastest time in all four runs, the first in Olympic history in the men's singles to do so (Vera Zozula of the Soviet Union did that feat in the women's singles event at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid, New York.). Hackl won the silver medal again in the 2002 Games, becoming the first Winter Olympian to win a medal in five consecutive Winter Olympics. Most recently, he placed 7th in the 2006 Winter Olympics. Hackl has retired from active participation and got involved in coaching after the 2006 Winter Olympics. Lugers coached by Hackl include Felix Loch, Natalie Geisenberger, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt.[4][5]

Hackl won a total of 22 medals at the FIL World Luge Championships, including ten golds (Men's singles: 1989, 1990, 1997; Mixed team: 1991, 1993, 1995, 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005), ten silvers (Men's singles: 1991, 1993, 1995, 1996, 2001, 2004, 2005; Men's doubles: 1987, Mixed team: 1996, 1997), and two bronzes (Men's singles: 2000, Mixed team: 1999).

At the FIL European Luge Championships, Hackl won ten medals. This included six golds (Men's singles: 1988, 1990; Mixed team: 1988, 1992, 2000, 2002), three silvers (Men's singles: 1994, Mixed team: 1990, 1994), and one bronze (Men's singles: 1992).

He won the overall Luge World Cup title in men's singles twice (1988-9, 1989–90) and also had his best overall finish of second in men's doubles twice (1986-7, 1987–8).

Hackl is also a nine-time wok racing world champion.

He was inducted into the International Luge Federation's Hall of Fame in 2013.[6]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georg Hackl.

See also

References

Awards and achievements
Preceded by
Germany Jan Ullrich
German Sportsman of the Year
1998
Succeeded by
Germany Martin Schmitt
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