German lugers dominate at Cortina test event with Americans surprise runners-up in men’s doubles
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A drone view on Nov 21, 2025 shows the Cortina Sliding Centre, which will host bobsleigh, skeleton and luge competitions at the Milano Cortina Winter Olympic Games 2026 in Italy.
PHOTO: REUTERS
German lugers dominated all categories in the Nov 29 Olympic test event at Cortina d’Ampezzo, with Merle Fraebel winning the women’s event, while world champions Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Gubitz were victorious in the men’s doubles.
Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina were the fastest in women’s doubles, edging out Italians Andrea Votter and Marion Oberhofer. Americans Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa clinched second place in men’s doubles, the International Luge Federation (FIL) said in a statement.
Frabel achieved a total time of 1min 45.770sec, edging out fellow German and world champion Julia Taubitz by just 0.095 of a second. Austria’s Lisa Schulte finished third at the Eugenio Monti Sliding Centre in Italy.
Mueller and Haugsjaa were 0.234sec behind the winners in men's doubles, but celebrated as they finished ahead of Germany’s six-time Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, who came in third.
“It’s absolutely fantastic that we’ve already won a medal on the track where it really counts in February,” said Mueller.
Austrian world champions Selina Egle and Lara Kipp made a mistake during their second run, dropping them to third in the women’s doubles.
The men’s singles and team relay competitions will take place on Nov 30. REUTERS
