Alexander FERLAZZO

Australia

Luge

Date of Birth: 3 Apr 1995

Age: 26

Gender: Male

Place of birth: TOWNSVILLE, QLD

Birth Country:

Australia

Residence: TOWNSVILLE, QLD

Residence Country:

Australia

Events and Medals
Records
Schedule
Bio
General Interest
Milestones

Events and Medals

Discipline	Event	Rank	Medal
Luge	Men's Singles	16

Schedule

Start Time	Location	Event	Status
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Training Group B Run 1	Finished
After Run 1	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Training Group B Run 2	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Training Group B Run 3	Finished
After Run 3	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Training Group B Run 4	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Training Run 5	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Training Run 6	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Run 1	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Run 2	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Run 3	Finished
	Yanqing National Sliding Centre	Men's Singles Run 4	Finished

Biographical Information

Highlights

Athlete:

Historical Results

Olympic Games
Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
28	Men's Singles	2018	PyeongChang, KOR	00:02:26.191
33	Singles	2014	Sochi, RUS	00:03:34.044

Youth Olympic Games
Rank	Event	Year	Location	Result
19	Singles	2012	Innsbruck, AUT	00:01:21.375

Nickname:

Alex

Hobbies:

Fishing, surfing, rugby league (supports North Queensland Cowboys)

Occupation:

Athlete

Family:

Father, Frank. Mother, Michelle. Sister, Cassie. Brothers, Bradley and Jarrod.

Languages spoken:

English

Debut:

2013 Nations Cup in Lillehammer (Singles - 24th)
2015 World Cup in Park City (Singles - 26th)

National team:

2010

Start:

Started luge in 2010 after his mother met Karen Flyn (AUS), a former luger and the recruitment and development manager for Luge Australia, at her Pilates class, and was able to attend a talent identification camp in Sydney, NSW. His first run was on the natural track in Naseby, New Zealand, before heading to the United States to try an Olympic standard track in Lake Placid, NY. (olympics.com.au; olympics.com)

Reason:

"I love the adrenaline rush, the focus it requires, and I find the technical side very interesting." (Info 2018)

Ambition:

Win an Olympic Winter Games medal. (Info 2018)

Memorable:

Winning singles at the 2014 Junior World Cup in Whistler.

Hero:

Two-time Olympic and six-time World Championship luge gold medallist, Armin Zoeggler (ITA). (Info 2018)

Influence:

His parents. "Without them, I wouldn't be here, that's for sure. I would not have gone to the Olympics. I wouldn't even know what luge was in the first place. Without them, I'd be nothing. I'm forever grateful for what they have done for me." (abc.net.au, 3 Mar 2014)

Philosophy:

"Never give up on what you believe in. Every mistake is a learning curve. You have to get back on and do it again." (Info 2018)

General Interest

TROPICAL BOY
Born and raised in Townsville, a tropical city in Far North Queensland. " I saw snow once in Australia, and even that was man-made. I belong to tropical north Queensland. It's all about your longboard when the surf is up. You mention luge and you will see eyeballs rolling." (olympics.com)

SIMPLE START
After his mother Michelle met Luge Australia's recruitment and development manager at her Pilates class she suggested the sport to her son. Watching videos on YouTube, the pair started training on a long winding road, with a self-built wheeled sled. Michelle would stand at the top of the hill and wave down cars as Alexander completes his run, wearing a t-shirt, jeans and sneakers (which he used as brakes).

"She just kind of jumps on the road and says stop, stop, there's a luge coming. And I can see down the bottom anyway. If I can see cars coming, I'll brake and get off the road." (yahoo.com, 10 Apr 2014; npr.org, 10 Apr 2014)

Milestones

His 16th-place finish at the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games is the highest-ever placing for an Australian in the sport.

Two-time Olympian. At Sochi 2014, he became the youngest Australian luger to compete (18 years 311 days), and the second Australian male luger to compete (first was Roger White in 1994). Only Australian luger at both Sochi 2014 and PyeongChang 2018.

Finished eighth at the 2017 U23 World Championships in Innsbruck.

First Australian to win a FIL race, after claiming victory at the 2014 Junior World Cup in Whistler. Finished 0.001 seconds ahead of Sebastian Bley (GER). Won bronze at the 2012 Youth World Cup in Lillehammer, Australia's first medal at that level.

Competed at the inaugural Winter Youth Olympic Games in 2012 (Innsbruck). Was one of only 11 athletes on the Australian team.

Social Media

Legend

:: Gold Medal Event

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