Summer Britcher of USA Luge secured her second victory of the season in women’s singles luge at the World Cup event held in Sigulda, Latvia, on January 7, 2024. This win propels her to the top of the World Cup standings, solidifying her position as a strong contender for the upcoming Milan Cortina Olympics next month.
Britcher’s performance was impressive, clocking a total time of 1 minute, 23.840 seconds across two heats. She triumphed over Austria’s Lisa Schulte, who finished with a time of 1:23.877, and Germany’s Julia Taubitz, who recorded 1:23.931. This victory marks Britcher’s seventh career singles win, extending her record for USA Luge sliders.
In a post-race statement, Britcher expressed her joy: “Very, very happy. I’ve had a lot of ups and downs here in Sigulda, but a long time ago it was like my favorite track and I really loved it. It was a lot of fun to feel that joy again on the track here.” With this win, Britcher is on track to become the first American to clinch the World Cup overall singles title, a feat that has yet to be accomplished in USA Luge history.
The competition format in Sigulda involved two runs over two days, simulating the structure of the Olympic event. Despite missing the season-opening World Cup in Winterberg, Germany, due to its exclusion from the Olympic qualifying criteria, Britcher leads the points standings. She entered the second heat in third place but surmounted the challenge to secure her victory.
Britcher’s success was not without surprises, as she admitted, “I really did not think it was going to happen. I tried really hard to not think about the results.” Her ability to maintain focus on her performance rather than the outcomes contributed to her win.
In addition to her singles success, Britcher also played a pivotal role in helping USA Luge secure bronze in the team relay event. The American team, which included athletes from various categories, finished behind Austria and the host nation, Latvia.
In related competitions, two-time Olympic champion Felix Loch of Germany clinched his 55th career victory in the men’s singles race, just two wins shy of the all-time record of 57 held by retired Italian slider Armin Zöggeler. Loch’s triumph was followed closely by Austria’s Jonas Müller and Germany’s Max Langenhan.
Looking ahead, USA Luge plans to announce its Olympic team around January 12, 2024. Meanwhile, the U.S. bobsled and skeleton teams are expected to be revealed on January 19, 2024. The bobsled competitions will continue with the women’s monobob and two-man World Cup races scheduled for Saturday at St. Moritz, Switzerland.
Overall, Britcher’s remarkable form and performance in Sigulda not only highlight her capabilities but also build anticipation for her participation in the upcoming Olympic Games.
