FIBT World Championships 2008
Encyclopedia
Altenberg, Germany
Altenberg is a town in the Sächsische Schweiz-Osterzgebirge district, in the Free State of Saxony, Germany. It is situated in the Ore Mountains, close to the border with the Czech Republic, 15 km northwest of Teplice, and 32 km south of Dresden....
for the fifth time, having done so in 1991
FIBT World Championships 1991
The FIBT World Championships 1991 took place in Altenberg, Germany and Igls, Austria . This was Altenberg's first time hosting a championship event. Igls was hosting its third, doing so previously in 1935 and 1963...
(bobsleigh
Bobsleigh
Bobsleigh or bobsled is a winter sport in which teams of two or four make timed runs down narrow, twisting, banked, iced tracks in a gravity-powered sled that are combined to calculate the final score....
), 1994
FIBT World Championships 1994
The FIBT World Championships 1994 took place in Altenberg, Germany for the second time, having hosted the event previously in 1991 . This was an extraordinary event since skeleton was not included on the program at the 1994 Winter Olympics in Lillehammer, Norway.-Men's skeleton:-Medal...
(skeleton
Skeleton (sport)
Skeleton is a fast winter sliding sport in which an individual person rides a small sled down a frozen track while lying face down, during which athletes experience forces up to 5g. It originated in St. Moritz, Switzerland as a spin-off from the popular British sport of Cresta Sledding...
), 1999
FIBT World Championships 1999
The FIBT World Championships 1999 took place in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy and Altenberg, Germany . Cortina hosted the championships for the ninth time, previously doing so in 1937 , 1939 , 1950, 1954, 1960, 1966, 1981, and 1989...
(skeleton), and 2000
FIBT World Championships 2000
The FIBT World Championships 2000 took place in Altenberg, Germany , Winterberg, Germany , and Igls, Austria . Altenberg hosted the championship event for the fourth time, doing so previously in 1991 , 1994 , and 1999...
(men's bobsleigh). It is the first time Altenberg
Altenberg bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Altenberg bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Altenberg, Germany.-History:Altenberg raced bobsleigh as early as 1908 on a natural track going downhill. By the late 1970s, the East Germans who were already successful in luge, began getting...
has hosted all of the events at one championship
FIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
. Training for the events took place February 12–14 for two-man and two-woman bobsleigh, and February 19–20 for skeleton and four-man bobsleigh.
Non-competitive events
- Practice for men's and women's bobsleigh was cancelled on February 12 to fogFogFog is a collection of water droplets or ice crystals suspended in the air at or near the Earth's surface. While fog is a type of stratus cloud, the term "fog" is typically distinguished from the more generic term "cloud" in that fog is low-lying, and the moisture in the fog is often generated...
and moist air which affected track visibility. Additional training took place on the 13th.
Two man
February 16–17, 2008. 30 sleds were scheduled to compete. 26 sleds finished with one team disqualifed after the first run, one team not finishing the second run, and two teams not starting after the third run. Lange and Kuske won their third two-man world championship and fifth overall.| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | (André Lange André Lange André Lange is a retired German bobsledder and the most successful bob pilot of all time who competed at senior level from 1998 to 2010. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he has won four gold medals. He was born in Ilmenau, Thuringia.... , Kevin Kuske Kevin Kuske Kevin Kuske is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1999. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he has four gold medals and one silver medal.... ) |
3:40.58 |
| Silver | (Thomas Florschuetz Thomas Florschuetz Thomas Florschütz is a German bobsleder who has competed since 2006. He won a silver medal in the two-man event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.... , Mirko Paetzold Mirko Paetzold Mirko Paetzold is a German bobsleder who has competed since 1998. He a silver medal in the two-man event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.-References:**... ) |
+ 1.06 |
| Bronze | (Alexandre Zoubkov Alexandre Zoubkov Alexandr Yuryevich Zubkov , born 10 August 1974 in Bratsk) is a Russian bobsledder who has competed since 1999. Competing in four Winter Olympics, he won two medals with a silver in 2006 and a bronze in 2010 .... , Alexey Voevoda Alexey Voevoda Alexey Ivanovich Voyevoda is a Russian bobsledder and professional armwrestler.-Bobsleigh:A professional bobsleigher since 2002, Voyevoda won silver in the four-man bobsleigh event with teammates Philippe Egorov, Alexei Seliverstov, and Alexandre Zoubkov at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin... ) |
+ 1.39 |
Four man
February 23–24, 2008. 24 sleds competed with 20 finishing. Lange swept both events with the fastest times in each heat. It was his second sweep at the FIBT World ChampionshipsFIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
, having done so in 2003
FIBT World Championships 2003
The FIBT World Championships 2003 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States , Winterberg, Germany , and Nagano, Japan . Lake Placid hosted the championship event for the eighth time, doing so previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, 1973, 1978, 1983, and 1997...
and his third overall, counting 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...
.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | (André Lange André Lange André Lange is a retired German bobsledder and the most successful bob pilot of all time who competed at senior level from 1998 to 2010. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he has won four gold medals. He was born in Ilmenau, Thuringia.... , René Hoppe René Hoppe René Hoppe is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1998. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he won a gold medal in the four-man event with teammates Kevin Kuske, André Lange, and Martin Putze.... , Kevin Kuske Kevin Kuske Kevin Kuske is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1999. Competing in three Winter Olympics, he has four gold medals and one silver medal.... , Martin Putze Martin Putze Martin Putze is a German bobsledder who has competed since the early 2000s. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won two medals in the four-man event with a gold in 2006 and a silver in 2010.... ) |
3:36.26 |
| Silver | (Alexander Zubkov, Roman Oreshnikov Roman Oreshnikov Roman Oreshnikov is a Russian bobsledder who has competed since 2002. He won the silver medal in the four-man event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.... , Dmitry Trunenkov Dmitry Trunenkov Dmitry Trunenkov is a Russian bobsledder who has competed since the early 2000s. He won the silver medal in the four-man event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.... , Dmitriy Stepushkin Dmitriy Stepushkin Dmitriy Stepushkin is a Russian bobsledder who has competed since 2000. He won three medals in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships with two silvers and a bronze .... ) |
+2.02 |
| Bronze | (Matthias Höpfner Matthias Höpfner Matthias Höpfner is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1995. He won two medals at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany with a gold in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event and a bronze in the four-man event.Höpfner also finished fifth in the two-man event at the 2006... , Ronny Listner Ronny Listner Ronny Listner is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2000. He won the bronze medal in the four-man event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.... , Thomas Pöge Thomas Pöge Thomas Pöge is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2002. He won the bronze medal in the four-man event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.-References:*... , Alex Mann Alex Mann Alex Mann is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2007. He won two medals at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany with a gold in the mixed team event and a bronze in the four-man event.... ) |
+2.59 |
Two woman
February 15–16, 2008. 25 sleds were scheduled to compete. 23 sleds actually did with one withdrawing after the first run, one withdrawing after the second run, and two crashing out during the fourth run. This event marks the first ever sweep in the bobsleigh part of the championshipsFIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
' history and the only the second time ever in any event in the championships' history with Austria
Austria
Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...
being the first to do so in skeleton at Igls in 1991
FIBT World Championships 1991
The FIBT World Championships 1991 took place in Altenberg, Germany and Igls, Austria . This was Altenberg's first time hosting a championship event. Igls was hosting its third, doing so previously in 1935 and 1963...
. Counting 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...
in Turin
Turin
Turin is a city and major business and cultural centre in northern Italy, capital of the Piedmont region, located mainly on the left bank of the Po River and surrounded by the Alpine arch. The population of the city proper is 909,193 while the population of the urban area is estimated by Eurostat...
, this is Kiriasis's fourth straight World or Olympic championships in this event. Several crashes occurred the two-day event.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | (Sandra Kiriasis Sandra Kiriasis Sandra Kiriasis is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2000.At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City she won silver in the two-woman event together with teammate Ulrike Holzner... , Romy Logsch Romy Logsch Romy Logsch is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2006. -Career:She won two gold medals in the two-woman event at the FIBT World Championships, earning them in 2007 and 2008... ) |
3:49.50 |
| Silver | (Cathleen Martini Cathleen Martini Cathleen Martini is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2000. She won four medals in the two-woman event at the FIBT World Championships with two silvers and two bronzes .... , Janine Tischer Janine Tischer Janine Tischer is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2002. She won three medals in the two-woman event at the FIBT World Championships with two silvers and a bronze .... ) |
+ 0.26 |
| Bronze | (Claudia Schramm Claudia Schramm Claudia Schramm is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2000. She won a bronze in the two-woman event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.... , Nicole Herschmann Nicole Herschmann Nicole Herschmann is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2001. Competing in two Winter Olympics, she won a bronze medal in the two-woman event at Salt Lake City in 2002.... ) |
+ 1.12 |
Men
February 21–22, 2008. Bromley is the first BritishGreat Britain
Great Britain or Britain is an island situated to the northwest of Continental Europe. It is the ninth largest island in the world, and the largest European island, as well as the largest of the British Isles...
athlete to win a world championship
FIBT World Championships
The FIBT World Championships, part of the Fédération Internationale de Bobsleigh et de Tobogganing , have taken place on an annual basis in non-Winter Olympic years since 1930. A two-man event was included in 1931 with a combined championship occurring in 1947...
since 1965
FIBT World Championships 1965
The FIBT World Championships 1965 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland for the record tenth time. The Swiss city had hosted the event previously in 1931 , 1935 , 1937 , 1938 , 1939 , 1947, 1955, 1957, and 1959....
. Changing ice conditions complicated the sliding, causing five top sliders to leave their starting grooves.
| Pos | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 3:54.71 | |
| Silver | +0.68 | |
| Bronze | +0.74 |
Women
February 22–23, 2008. Huber won her second gold of the while Uhlaender won her second medal of the championships. It was Germany's fourth gold at the championships.| Pos | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 4:02.78 | |
| Silver | +0.30 | |
| Bronze | +1.12 |
Mixed team
February 18, 2008. Six teams took part in the event. Germany won their third gold medal in these championships.| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | (Sebastian Haupt Sebastian Haupt Sebastian Haupt is a German skeleton racer who has competed since 2001. He won the gold medal in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.Haupt also finished ninth in the men's skeleton event at the 2006 Winter Olympics in... , Sandra Kiriasis Sandra Kiriasis Sandra Kiriasis is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2000.At the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City she won silver in the two-woman event together with teammate Ulrike Holzner... , Berit Wiacker Berit Wiacker Berit Wiacker is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2002. She won two gold medals in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the FIBT World Championships .... , Anja Huber Anja Huber Anja Huber is a German skeleton racer who has competed since 2003. She earned two gold medals at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany, winning them in women's skeleton and the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event.Huber finished eighth in the women's skeleton event at the 2006... , Matthias Höpfner Matthias Höpfner Matthias Höpfner is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1995. He won two medals at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany with a gold in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event and a bronze in the four-man event.Höpfner also finished fifth in the two-man event at the 2006... , Alex Mann Alex Mann Alex Mann is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2007. He won two medals at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany with a gold in the mixed team event and a bronze in the four-man event.... ) |
3:57.20 |
| Silver | (Jon Montgomery Jon Montgomery Jonathan Riley "Jon" Montgomery is a Canadian skeleton racer who has competed since 2006. He won the Gold Medal in the men's skeleton event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.-Career:... , Kaillie Humphries Kaillie Humphries Kaillie Humphries is a Canadian bobsledder. Humphries has competed since 2004 and currently slides with Heather Moyse as her brakeman... , Jenni Hucul Jenni Hucul Jenni Hucul is a Canadian bobsledder who has competed since 2007. She won the silver medal in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.... , Michelle Kelly Michelle Kelly Michelle Kelly is a Canadian skeleton racer who has competed since 1996. She won a complete set of medals at the FIBT World Championships with a gold in 2003 , a silver in 2008 , and a bronze in 2005 .Kelly also finished tenth in the women's skeleton event... , Lyndon Rush Lyndon Rush Lyndon Rush is a Canadian bobsledder who has competed since 2004.Rush also won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.... , Nathan Cross Nathan Cross Nathan Cross is a Canadian bobsledder who has competed since 2007. He won the silver medal in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the 2008 FIBT World Championships in Altenberg, Germany.-References:*... ) |
+ 1.78 |
| Bronze | (Zach Lund Zach Lund Zach Lund is an American skeleton racer who has competed since 2000. He won two bronze medals at the FIBT World Championships with one in 2007 and one in 2008 . He finished #1 in World Cup standings in 2007.-Personal life:Zach was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah. He is the youngest of 5... , Erin Pac Erin Pac Erin Pac is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2002. She won two medals in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the FIBT World Championships with a silver in 2007 and a bronze in 2008.... , Emily Azevedo Emily Azevedo Emily Azevedo is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2002. She won two medals in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the FIBT World Championships with a silver in 2007 and a bronze in 2008.... , Katie Uhlaender Katie Uhlaender Katie Uhlaender is an American skeleton racer who has competed since 2003. She won four medals at the FIBT World Championships with one silver and three bronzes .Uhlaender won the women's Skeleton World Cup title twice... , Steven Holcomb Steven Holcomb Steven Holcomb is an American bobsledder who has competed since 1998. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, he finished sixth in the four-man event and 14th in the two-man event... , Curtis Tomasevicz Curtis Tomasevicz Curtis Tomasevicz is an American former college football player for the University of Nebraska Cornhuskers, and bobsledder who has competed since 2004... ) |
+ 1.87 |
Medal table
| 1 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 11 | |
| 2 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 2 | |
| 3 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 4 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | |
| 5 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 |