Walter Plaikner
Encyclopedia
Walter Plaikner (born 24 October 1951 in Kiens
, South Tyrol
) is an Italian
national of Austrian descent former luge
r who competed in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He won the gold medal in the men's doubles event (shared with East Germany) at the 1972 Winter Olympics
in Sapporo.
Plaikner won two medals in the men's doubles events at the FIL World Luge Championships with a gold in 1971
and a bronze in 1973
. He also won two gold medals in the men's doubles event at the FIL European Luge Championships (1971
, 1974
).
, Plaikner is Chairman of the Technical Commission for Artificial Track of the International Luge Federation (FIL). He is also head coach of the Italian national luge team.
Kiens
Kiens is a comune in South Tyrol in the Italian region Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol, located about 100 km northeast of Trento and about 50 km northeast of Bolzano.-Geography:...
, South Tyrol
South Tyrol
South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...
) is an Italian
Italy
Italy , officially the Italian Republic languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Italy's official name is as follows:;;;;;;;;), is a unitary parliamentary republic in South-Central Europe. To the north it borders France, Switzerland, Austria and...
national of Austrian descent former 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 in the late 1960s and early 1970s. He won the gold medal in the men's doubles event (shared with East Germany) at the 1972 Winter Olympics
1972 Winter Olympics
The 1972 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XI Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated from February 3 to February 13, 1972 in Sapporo, Hokkaidō, Japan...
in Sapporo.
Plaikner won two medals in the men's doubles events at the FIL World Luge Championships with a gold in 1971
FIL World Luge Championships 1971
-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
and a bronze in 1973
FIL World Luge Championships 1973
The FIL World Luge Championships 1973 took place in Oberhof, East Germany.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
. He also won two gold medals in the men's doubles event at the FIL European Luge Championships (1971
FIL European Luge Championships 1971
The FIL European Luge Championships 1971 took place in Imst, Austria for the second time after having previously hosted the championships in 1956. A record four countries won medals at these championships.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:...
, 1974
FIL European Luge Championships 1974
The FIL European Luge Championships 1974 took place in Imst, Austria for the third time after previously hosting the event in 1956 and 1971.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Medal table:-References:***...
).
, Plaikner is Chairman of the Technical Commission for Artificial Track of the International Luge Federation (FIL). He is also head coach of the Italian national luge team.