FIBT World Championships 2009
Encyclopedia
Bauhaus (company)
Bauhaus is a German retail chain offering products for home improvement, gardening and workshop, using the name of the famous modernist Bauhaus school and style of the period between the First and Second World Wars. Its first store opened in Mannheim, Germany in 1960...
FIBT Bobsleigh & Skeleton World Championships, 20 February to 1 March 2009 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
Lake Placid bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run. is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Lake Placid, New York, United States. This venue was used for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and for the only winter Goodwill Games in 2000...
in Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid, New York
Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....
for the ninth time, doing so previously in 1949
FIBT World Championships 1949
The FIBT World Championships 1949 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States. It marked the first time the championships took place outside of Europe.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:...
, 1961
FIBT World Championships 1961
The FIBT World Championships 1961 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the second time after hosting the event previously in 1949.-Two man bobsleigh:Monti won his fifth straight championship in this event, a record that still stands...
, 1969
FIBT World Championships 1969
The FIBT World Championships 1969 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the third time, hosting the event previously in 1949, and 1961. This also marked the first time both events were able to be competed since 1965.-Two man bobsleigh:...
, 1973
FIBT World Championships 1973
The FIBT World Championships 1973 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the fourth time, hosting the event previously in 1949, 1961, and 1969.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:-Medal table:-References:**...
, 1978
FIBT World Championships 1978
The FIBT World Championships 1978 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the fifth time, hosting the event previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, and 1973.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:-Medal table:-References:**...
, 1983
FIBT World Championships 1983
The FIBT World Championships 1983 took place in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the sixth time, hosting the event previously in 1949, 1961, 1969, 1973, and 1978.-Two man bobsleigh:-Four man bobsleigh:-Medal table:-References:**...
, 1997
FIBT World Championships 1997
The FIBT World Championships 1997 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland and Lake Placid, New York, United States . St. Moritz hosted a championship event for the record eighteenth time...
(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...
), and 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...
(Men's 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....
). Lake Placid was chosen 25-11 over Igls, 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...
.
Event preparations
Local schools were involved in a "Scholastic Sliding Challenge" (SSC) as part of the FIL World Luge ChampionshipsFIL World Luge Championships 2009
The FIL World Luge Championships 2009 ran on 1–8 February 2009 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the second time after having hosted the event in 1983...
that was held in early February 2009. This program was developed at the 2007 World Luge Championships
FIL World Luge Championships 2007
The FIL World Luge Championships 2007 took place February 2-4, 2007 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Igls, Austria for the fourth time after having hosted the event in 1977, 1987, and 1997.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:...
in Igls, then carried over to last year's World Luge Championships
FIL World Luge Championships 2008
The FIL World Luge Championships 2008 took place January 21-27, 2008 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Oberhof, Germany for the third time after having hosted the event in 1973 and 1985. The relay competition took the place of the team event that had been held at every world...
in Oberhof, Germany
Oberhof, Germany
Oberhof is a town in the Schmalkalden-Meiningen district of Thuringia, Germany. It is a winter sports center and health resort. It is visited by tenfold as many tourists every year...
. 22 schools participated in the Lake Placid area that involved over 4000 students. The track
Lake Placid bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Mt. Van Hoevenberg Olympic Bobsled Run. is a venue for bobsleigh, luge and skeleton located in Lake Placid, New York, United States. This venue was used for the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympics and for the only winter Goodwill Games in 2000...
was iced down on 6 October 2008, the earliest it has ever been iced in preparation for both the FIBT and FIL championships. Local media coverage was provided by WSLP
WSLP
WSLP is a radio station broadcasting a Adult Contemporary format. Licensed to Saranac Lake, New York, USA, the station is currently owned by North Country Radio, Inc....
-FM 93.3 in neighboring Saranac Lake
Saranac Lake, New York
Saranac Lake is a village located in the state of New York, United States. As of the 2010 census, the population was 5,406. The village is named after Upper, Middle, and Lower Saranac Lakes, which are nearby....
. Online coverage in the United States was provided by Universal Sports
Universal Sports
Universal Sports is an American television network that airs various sports, primarily those contested in the Olympic Games, including swimming, gymnastics, cycling, track and field, figure skating, skiing, bobsledding and triathlon.-Programming:...
.
World Cup champions prior to the championships
As of February 15, 2009, the top three final World Cup positions were as follows (Note: In Bobsleigh, only the driver is shown.):| Discipline | Leader | Second | Third |
| Bobsleigh men's combined | - 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 .... |
- Beat Hefti Beat Hefti Beat Hefti is a Swiss bobsledder who has competed since the late 1990s. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won a total of three bronze medals .... |
- 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.... |
| Bobsleigh two-man | - Beat Hefti Beat Hefti Beat Hefti is a Swiss bobsledder who has competed since the late 1990s. Competing in two Winter Olympics, he won a total of three bronze medals .... |
- Thomas Florschütz | - 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.... |
| Bobsleigh four-man | - 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 .... |
- Janis Minins Janis Minins Jānis Miņins is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 1999. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York, earning the country its first championship medal ever.In the 2004–05 season his best placing was a sixth place in the 4-man... |
- 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... |
| Bobsleigh two-woman | - 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... |
- 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 .... |
- Shauna Rohbock Shauna Rohbock Shauna L. Rohbock is a Specialist in the U.S. Army National Guard, an Olympic medal-winning bobsledder, and former professional soccer player.... |
| Men's skeleton | |||
| Women's skeleton |
Two man
21-22 February 2009 at 08:30 EST (13:30 UTC) for the last two runs. The eventual silver medalists from Germany had the fastest first run, but the Swiss duo of Rüegg and Grand had the fastest times for the remaining three runs. Three-time and defending champion André LangeAndré 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....
of Germany finished fifth.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | II (Ivo Rüegg, Cedric Grand Cedric Grand Cédric Grand is a Swiss bobsledder who competed from 1997 to 2010. Competing in four Winter Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the four-man event at Turin in 2006.... ) |
3:42.20 |
| Silver | I (Thomas Florschütz, Marc Kühne Marc Kühne Marc Kühne is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1998. He won two medals at the FIBT World Championships with a gold in the mixed team and a silver in the two-man .... ) |
+0.22 |
| Bronze | I (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... ) |
+0.40 |
Four man
28 February - 1 March 2009. The United StatesUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
had the fastest time in each of the four runs to win their first bobsleigh gold medal at the World championships since 1959
FIBT World Championships 1959
The FIBT World Championships 1959 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland for the record ninth time. The Swiss city had hosted the event previously in 1931 , 1935 , 1937 , 1938 , 1939 , 1947, 1955, and 1957....
. This was Latvia
Latvia
Latvia , officially the Republic of Latvia , is a country in the Baltic region of Northern Europe. It is bordered to the north by Estonia , to the south by Lithuania , to the east by the Russian Federation , to the southeast by Belarus and shares maritime borders to the west with Sweden...
's first ever medal at the championships while five-time and defending champion Lange of Germany
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...
would finish second.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | I (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... , Justin Olsen Justin Olsen Justin Olsen is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2008. He won two medals at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid, New York with a gold in the four-man and a bronze in the mixed team events.... , Steve Mesler, 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... ) |
3:36.61 |
| Silver | II (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.... , Alexander Rödiger Alexander Rödiger Alexander Rödiger is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2006. He won a silver medal in the four-man event at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.... , 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.... ) |
+ 0.97 |
| Bronze | I (Jānis Miņins Janis Minins Jānis Miņins is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 1999. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York, earning the country its first championship medal ever.In the 2004–05 season his best placing was a sixth place in the 4-man... , Daumants Dreiškens Daumants Dreiškens Daumants Dreiškens is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 2003. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York,... , Oskars Melbārdis Oskars Melbardis Oskars Melbārdis is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 2006. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York.-Career highlights:World Championships:World Cup:... , Intars Dambis Intars Dambis Intars Dambis is a Latvian bobsledder who has competed since 2002. He won a bronze medal in the four-man event at the FIBT World Championships 2009 in Lake Placid, New York.-Career highlights:World Championships:... ) |
+ 1.00 |
Two woman
20-21 February 2009. The CanadianCanada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
duo of Kaillie Humphries
Kaillie Humphries
Kaillie Humphries is a Canadian bobsledder. Humphries has competed since 2004 and currently slides with Heather Moyse as her brakeman...
and Heather Moyse
Heather Moyse
Heather Moyse is a Canadian athlete, representing Canada in international competition as a bobsledder and rugby union player, and competing at the Canadian intercollegiate level in rugby, soccer and track and field.-Awards:...
led after the first run while Rohbock & Meyers led after the second run before the British team of Minichiello & Cooke had the fastest third and fourth runs. Three-time defending champion 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...
of Germany
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...
finished seventh.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | I (Nicole Minichiello Nicole Minichiello Nicola Minichiello born Nicola Gautier on March 21, 1978 is a British bobsledder who has competed since 2001. She has won two medals in the two-woman event at the FIBT World Championships winning a silver in and making history with a gold in by becoming the first British female Bobsleigh Driver... , Gillian Cooke Gillian Cooke Gillian Cooke is a Scottish athlete and bobsledder.Gillian Cooke was born and brought up in Edinburgh. Educated at George Watson's College, she began her sporting career in track and field with Edinburgh Southern Harriers. In 2001, she took 4th place in the triple jump at the Commonwealth Youth... ) |
3:48.22 |
| Silver | I (Shauna Rohbock Shauna Rohbock Shauna L. Rohbock is a Specialist in the U.S. Army National Guard, an Olympic medal-winning bobsledder, and former professional soccer player.... , Elana Meyers Elana Meyers Elana Meyers is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2007. A native of Fairburn, Georgia who now lives in Douglasville.... ) |
+0.38 |
| Bronze | II (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 .... ) |
+0.62 |
Men
27-28 February 2009. The second run was cancelled after 20 skeleton racers had completed to irregular track conditions. Pengilly came from 15th after the first run to earn the silver medal. It was also Stähli's third gold medal which he earned on his 41st birthday.| Pos | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 2.46.58 | |
| Silver | +0.35 | |
| Bronze | +0.51 |
Women
26-27 February 2009. Trott set the track record in the first run and had the fastest time in all three runs. The final run was plagued with heavy rainfall and strong winds up to 50 mph (85 km/h). It was Williams' first world championship medal.| Pos | Athlete | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | 3:47.97 | |
| Silver | +0.59 | |
| Bronze | +0.64 |
Mixed team
22 February 2009. GermanyGermany
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...
had the fastest times in the first and third runs to win their third straight team event.
| Pos | Team | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Gold | (Frank Rommel Frank Rommel Frank Rommel is a German skeleton racer who has competed since 2002. He won two medals at the FIBT World Championships with a gold in the mixed team and a bronze in the men's skeleton event 2008.... , 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... , Patricia Polifka Patricia Polifka Patricia Polifka is a German bobsledder who has competed since 2005. She was a push athlete for Claudia Schramm during the 2006/07 season, along side Stephanie Szczurek and Nicole Herschmann. She won a gold in the mixed team event at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid, New York... , Marion Trott Marion Trott Marion Thees is a German skeleton racer who has competed since 2001. She won two golds at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid, New York, earning them in the women's skeleton and mixed team events.In 2009, Trott was second in the European Championships in St. Moritz... , Thomas Florschütz, & Andreas Barucha Andreas Barucha Andreas Barucha is a German bobsledder who has competed since 1999. He won a gold in the mixed team event at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid, New York... ) |
3:45.41 |
| Silver | (Gregor Stähli Gregor Stähli Gregor Stähli is a Swiss skeleton racer who has competed since 1989. He won two bronze Winter Olympic medals in the men's skeleton, earning them in 2002 and 2006.... , Sabrina Hafner Sabrina Hafner Sabina Hafner is a Swiss bobsledder who has competed since 2003. She won two medals in the mixed bobsleigh-skeleton team event at the FIBT World Championships with a silver in 2009 and a bronze in 2007.She won three times the world juniors championchip and is Swiss champion 2005/ 2006/ 2009/... , Anne Dietrich, Maya Pedersen, Ivo Rüegg, & Cedric Grand Cedric Grand Cédric Grand is a Swiss bobsledder who competed from 1997 to 2010. Competing in four Winter Olympics, he won a bronze medal in the four-man event at Turin in 2006.... ) |
+0.24 |
| Bronze | (Eric Bernotas Eric Bernotas Eric Bernotas is an American skeleton racer who has competed since 2002. He won three medals at the FIBT World Championships with two silvers and a bronze .... , Shauna Rohbock Shauna Rohbock Shauna L. Rohbock is a Specialist in the U.S. Army National Guard, an Olympic medal-winning bobsledder, and former professional soccer player.... , Valerie Fleming Valerie Fleming Valerie Fleming is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2003. At the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, she won a silver in the two-woman event with teammate Shauna Rohbock.... , 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... , & Justin Olsen Justin Olsen Justin Olsen is an American bobsledder who has competed since 2008. He won two medals at the 2009 FIBT World Championships in Lake Placid, New York with a gold in the four-man and a bronze in the mixed team events.... ) |
+0.25 |
Medal table
| 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 6 | |
| 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 | |
| 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 3 | |
| 4 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 | |
| 5 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | |
| 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |