Felix LOCH

OLYMPIC WINTER GAMES
Entered the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games looking for his third-consecutive men’s singles gold medal, equalling the record set by his hero Georg Hackl (GER). Leading by 0.192 seconds going into the final run, he clipped the wall on Curve 9, costing him half a second and a medal. Loch finished fifth, 0.266 seconds behind gold medallist David Gleirscher (AUT), and was seen being consoled by his father and coach, Norbert Loch, at the conclusion of the run. “It’s the toughest moment of my career.” (bbc.com, 11 Feb 2018; olympic.org)

GOLD MEDAL GIFT
Melted down his gold medal from the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Games, re-solidifying it into two disks, giving one to the family of Georgian luger Nodar Kumaritashvili, who died during a training run prior to the Games starting. The medal is etched with a portrait of Kumaritashvili, with the years of his birth and death. (si.com, Feb 2014)

SPEED RECORD
Set a world luge speed record of 153.98km/h at the Whistler Sliding Centre in 2009. Austrian Manuel Pfister broke the record one year later, registering 154km/h just prior to the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympic Games. (olympic.org)

FATHER AND COACH
Coached by his father, Norbert Loch for his whole career, the pair have learnt to separate work and home life. “On the track, he is my boss and gives the commands. At home, we are father and son. We argue with each other about football and other things.” (dw.com, 6 Feb 2014)

SUNSHINE TRAINING GROUP
Childhood friends with fellow German lugers Natalie Geisenberger, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt. Trained together under Loch’s father Norbert, and call themselves the "Sunshine Training Group." Norbert Loch said, “Sunshine means that they are having fun despite the hard training effort. If one of them falters a bit, the others carry him along.” (fil-luge.org, May 2014)

© Data by Sports Data Warehouse

Youngest male luger to win a singles World Championship title and Olympic Winter Games singles gold medal, claiming victories at the 2008 World Championships in Oberhof (18 years, 186 days) and at the Vancouver 2010 Olympic Winter Games (20 years, 205 days).

Three-time Olympic champion (2010 and 2014 singles, 2018 relay).

Has won a record 13 World titles (singles in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, 2016, 2019; sprint in 2016; and six-straight in the relay from 2008 to 2016). His 19 overall medals rank second all-time to German Georg Hackl (22).

Four-time Junior World champion (2006 and 2007 singles, 2006 and 2007 mixed team). 2008 singles silver medallist.

Won five-consecutive overall World Cup titles from 2011/12 to 2015/16. His seven titles rank fifth all-time.

In 2020/21, after two subpar seasons, won eight of nine World Cup singles races - and one in sprint - to win the singles title and tied with Kevin Fischnaller (ITA) for the sprint crown.