The British Olympic Association has today selected the two luge athletes who will represent Team GB at the PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games.
Adam Rosen and Rupert Staudinger become the first Olympic luge athletes to compete for Team GB since Rosen finished 16th at Vancouver 2010.
The 33-year-old is selected for his third Games, after also finishing 16th at Turin 2006, while PyeongChang will be Staudinger’s Winter Olympic debut.
At 20 years old, Staudinger has a best result of 24th at this season’s Nationcup in Oberhof and last season finished 38th at the World Championships and 26th at the European Championships.
Rosen’s best result this season came last weekend with a 27th place finish at the Luge World Cup in Oberhof.
The duo bring Team GB’s total number of selected athletes for PyeongChang 2018 to 19 from four sports following the announcements of 10 curlers, two figure skaters and five short track speed skaters last year.
Rosen and Staudinger will be in action on the first day of the Games, with the first two runs of the men’s singles event set for Saturday February 10th. The medals will be decided the following day with runs three and four.
Adam Rosen said: “It’s such an honour to go to another Olympics for Team GB – the feeling never gets old and it’s quite amazing to be selected and to be going to a third Games.
“Especially over the last few weeks, I feel like my sliding is really coming along and my form is a lot better. This is the right time to be peaking and things will be looking up in PyeongChang.”
Rupert Staudinger said: “It’s amazing. I’m so excited to be going to my first Games – I’m a bit speechless, it just feels so good.
“I found out around Christmas that there might be a possibility and now I know that I’m going, and with AJ too, is amazing. AJ has been like a big brother to me and a coach. I can say that without him it would not have been possible that I would have qualified for the Games.
“It’s a challenging track in PyeongChang, I need to work in training on some things but some of the big nations struggle there so everyone has a chance.”
Mike Hay, Team GB’s Chef de Mission for PyeongChang 2018, said: “After an eight year absence, it’s great to welcome luge back to Team GB for PyeongChang 2018. With
bobsleigh and skeleton assured of quota places too, today’s announcement will mean we will have a full complement of sliding sports in South Korea and the Games will hopefully be a great advert for the sport of luge in the UK.
“In Adam we have a seasoned campaigner who will bring great Olympic experience to the team. Being selected for a third Games is a fine achievement and no doubt he’ll be an invaluable teammate for Rupert who is racing in his first ever Olympic Winter Games.”
Mark Armstrong, Team Leader for luge at PyeongChang 2018 said: “The Great Britain Luge Association is absolutely delighted to have two athletes included within Team GB for the forthcoming Olympic Winter Games in PyeongChang. This is a significant achievement for a sport which receives no central funding.
“In AJ and Rupert we have a real mix of experience and youth, which we hope will inspire others who enjoy tobogganing to take up the sport. I would like to take the opportunity to thank all those who have supported us in getting to this position and wish the athletes the best of fortune in their endeavours.”