Barbara Niedernhuber (nicknamed Babsi, born on 6 June 1974 in Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden

Berchtesgaden is a municipality in the German Bavarian Alps. It is located in the south district of Berchtesgadener Land in Bavaria, near the border with Austria, some 30 km south of Salzburg and 180 km southeast of Munich...

) is a German

Germany

Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...

 luge

Luge

A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...

r who competed from 1994 to 2006. She won two silver medals in the women's singles event at the Winter Olympics (1998

1998 Winter Olympics

The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...

, 2002

2002 Winter Olympics

The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...

). A favorite to make the 2006 Winter Olympics

2006 Winter Olympics

The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...

, she was upset at the national championships by Tatjana Hüfner

Tatjana Hüfner

Tatjana Hüfner is a German luger who is the current Olympic Champion and has competed since 2003. She won the bronze medal in the women's singles at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin...

 in late 2005.

Niedernhuber also won seven medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with one gold (Mixed team: 2004

FIL World Luge Championships 2004

The FIL World Luge Championships 2004 took place February 13-15, 2004 at the Spiral track in Nagano, Japan. This marked the first time the event took place in Asia.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:...

), four silvers (Women's singles: 1999

FIL World Luge Championships 1999

The FIL World Luge Championships 1999 took place in Königssee, Germany for a record fifth time. Königssee had hosted the event previously in 1969, 1970, 1974, and 1979...

, 2000

FIL World Luge Championships 2000

The FIL World Luge Championships 2000 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland. This marked the only time since the 1981 world championships that the event has taken place on a naturally refrigerated track.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:...

, 2004, 2005

FIL World Luge Championships 2005

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

), and two bronzes (Women's singles: 2001

FIL World Luge Championships 2001

The FIL World Luge Championships 2001 took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the third time after hosting the event previously in 1990 and 1993.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 2003

FIL World Luge Championships 2003

The FIL World Luge Championships 2003 took place in Sigulda, Latvia. The team event was adjusted to one nation per team at these championships.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

). She also won three bronze medals in the women's singles event at the FIL European Luge Championships (2000

FIL European Luge Championships 2000

The FIL European Luge Championships 2000 took place in Winterberg, Germany for the third time having hosted the event previously in 1982 and 1992. The team event format was reduced to one run each in men's doubles, men's singles, and women's singles for the total time.-Men's singles:-Women's...

, 2002

FIL European Luge Championships 2002

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 2006

FIL European Luge Championships 2006

The FIL European Luge Championships 2006 took place in Winterberg, Germany for the fourth time having hosted the event previously in 1982, 1992, and 2000.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:...

).

Niedernhuber won the overall Luge World Cup title in women's singles in 2004-5.

Niedernhuber retired abruptly prior to the start of the 2006-07 World Cup

2006-07 Luge World Cup

The 2007 Luge World Cup is a multi race tournament over a season for luge. The season started on 18 November 2006 and ended on 18 February 2007. The World Cup is organised by the FIL.- Calendar :-Men's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's singles:-Team Relay:...

 season to a bacteria

Bacteria

Bacteria are a large domain of prokaryotic microorganisms. Typically a few micrometres in length, bacteria have a wide range of shapes, ranging from spheres to rods and spirals...

l infection in her ankle joint that developed after surgery during the summer of 2006.

Cultural references

• In The Simpsons
  The Simpsons
  The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
  
  episode "The Bart of War", Milhouse mentions he feels "like luge silver medalist Barbara Niedernhuber" while riding Flanders' video cart.