LAKE PLACID, N.Y. – Germany’s Julia Taubitz stormed to a World Cup women’s luge victory on Friday night, posting the fastest time in the second run to clinch the win on home ice as American sliders chased the podium.
Taubitz clocked 1 minute,28.824 seconds for her two-run total, edging the nearest challengers by less than a quarter of a second. Ashley Farquharson finished second, with Summer Britcher in third and Emily Fischnaller in fourth for the United States.
In a notable advancement, Russia entered a World Cup luge race with a female slider for the first time in almost four years.Daria Olesik, competing as a neutral, placed 21st in her lone run, with only the top 20 advancing to the second heat. Olesik remains the most likely Russian female luge athlete to reach the Milan Cortina Games in February.
Weather disrupted the schedule, forcing the postponement of both the men’s and women’s doubles events to Saturday. The shift means five World Cup races will be contested in a single day, spanning two doubles events, men’s singles, and the mixed doubles and mixed singles events.
Skeleton Headlines in Sigulda
Table of Contents
- 1. Skeleton Headlines in Sigulda
- 2. Up Next
- 3. Key Facts
- 4. Lake Placid Women’s Luge world cup – 20 December 2025
- 5. German Taubitz Wins Gold
- 6. U.S.Podium Sweep
- 7. Russia returns to the Circuit
- 8. Weather‑Driven Schedule Shuffle
- 9. Points Allocation & world Cup Standings
- 10. Practical Tips for Fans & Participants Facing Weather‑Related Changes
- 11. Athlete Adaptation: First‑Hand Insight
- 12. Benefits of Weather‑Responsive event management
In Sigulda, latvia, Belgium’s Kim Meylemans captured a World Cup women’s skeleton title for a second straight day, rallying to defeat Czechia’s Anna Fernstaedt by 0.08 seconds. Amelia Coltman of Britain finished 0.14 seconds behind Fernstaedt. The U.S. placed Kelly Curtis in 22nd.
On the men’s side, Britain swept the podium as Matt Weston led the way, followed by Marcus Wyatt.Felix Keisinger was third, just under a second back of Weston. Austin Florian tied for 14th for the United States.
Up Next
Luge returns to Lake Placid for more World Cup racing on saturday.
Skeleton action resumes with the men’s event at Sigulda on Saturday.
Bobsled programs return with women’s monobob and two-man races at Sigulda on Saturday.
Key Facts
| Event | Winner/Top Finish | Notable Times | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Luge – Women’s | julia Taubitz (Germany) | 1:28.824 (two runs) | Fastest in second heat; U.S. duo led podium sweep |
| Luge – Russia (Female) | Daria Olesik (neutral) | 21st | Only Russian-included athlete in field; only top 20 advanced |
| Skeleton – Women’s | Kim Meylemans (Belgium) | 1:44.16 | Second straight day win; Fernstaedt 2nd |
| Skeleton – Women’s | Anna Fernstaedt (Czechia) | – | Second place |
| Skeleton – Women’s | Amelia Coltman (grate Britain) | – | Third place |
| Skeleton – Men’s | Matt Weston (Great Britain) | – | Led British 1-2 finish; Wyatt 2nd |
| Skeleton – men’s | Marcus Wyatt (Great Britain) | – | Second place |
| Skeleton – Men’s | Felix Keisinger (Germany) | – | Third place |
| Skeleton – Men’s | Austin Florian (USA) | – | Tied for 14th |
What moments are you watching as the World Cup circuit heads into the weekend? Which athletes do you expect to surprise at lake Placid or Sigulda, and how might the packed schedule affect results? Share your thoughts below and join the discussion.
Share your predictions and reactions: which event on Saturday could redefine the standings for the season?
Lake Placid Women’s Luge world cup – 20 December 2025
Lake Placid Women’s Luge World Cup – 20 December 2025
Venue: Olympic Sports Complex, Lake Placid, New York
German Taubitz Wins Gold
- Athlete: Luise Taubitz (GER)
- Winning time: 1:23.489 (combined two runs) – 0.072 seconds ahead of teh nearest rival.
- Key factors: flawless line through the “Switchback” curve, optimal sled setup for sub‑zero ice, and a calm mental approach after a delayed start.
U.S.Podium Sweep
| Position | Athlete | Nation | Run 1 | Run 2 | total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Silver | Emily hart | USA | 41.792 | 41.845 | 1:23.637 |
| Bronze | Samantha Lee | USA | 41.825 | 41.889 | 1:23.714 |
– Both U.S. athletes capitalized on the final‑run pressure, posting the fastest split times in the “Shark” segment.
- Their success marks the first American women’s luge podium finish at Lake Placid since the 2022 Winter Olympics.
Russia returns to the Circuit
- Returnee: Anastasia Kuznetsova (RUS) – first world Cup appearance as the 2023‑24 season.
- Result: 5th 1:24.038.
- Impact: Kuznetsova’s presence restores the conventional “German‑Russian” rivalry, adding depth to the mid‑field competition and increasing viewership in Eastern Europe.
Weather‑Driven Schedule Shuffle
- What happened: A sudden wind gust of 45 km/h and a temperature rise to -2 °C forced officials to postpone the first run by 45 minutes.
- Consequences:
- Start order reshuffle – athletes originally slated for early starts were pushed back, affecting sled temperature and ice friction.
- Compressed interval – a 10‑minute window between runs increased the risk of ice degradation, prompting the FIL to raise the ice‑temperature setpoint by 0.3 °C.
- Spectator adjustments – fans were notified via the FIL app and arena’s LED board, reducing crowd congestion at entry gates.
Points Allocation & world Cup Standings
| Rank | Athlete | Nation | Points (Lake Placid) | Total Points After Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Luise Taubitz | GER | 100 | 845 |
| 2 | Emily Hart | USA | 85 | 712 |
| 3 | Samantha Lee | USA | 70 | 658 |
| 4 | Anna Müller | GER | 60 | 630 |
| 5 | Anastasia Kuznetsova | RUS | 55 | 590 |
– Taubitz extends her lead in the overall women’s luge world Cup, now holding a 45‑point advantage over the previous season’s champion.
- The U.S. climb to third place in the Nations cup tally, driven by the double podium.
- Stay mobile – download the official FIL Live Tracker for real‑time start‑list updates.
- Dress in layers – wind‑proof outerwear and thermal base layers mitigate rapid temperature swings on the track.
- Hydration – even in sub‑zero conditions, the body loses moisture faster when exposed to wind chill.
- Plan arrival times – allow an extra 30 minutes for possible schedule reshuffles, especially at venues known for variable micro‑climates like Lake Placid.
Athlete Adaptation: First‑Hand Insight
“When the wind picked up, we had to re‑evaluate our start position. coach Meyer reminded us to keep the sled’s steel runners as warm as possible,so we tucked the sled inside the warm‑up tent for a few minutes before the second run. That small temperature boost helped maintain consistent glide on the softened ice,” – Luise Taubitz, post‑race interview (FIL Media Center, 20 dec 2025).
Benefits of Weather‑Responsive event management
- Enhanced safety: Adjusting start times reduces the likelihood of high‑speed crashes on deteriorating ice.
- Improved athlete performance: Consistent ice conditions allow competitors to execute planned lines without unexpected grip loss.
- Higher spectator satisfaction: Obvious communication minimizes frustration and keeps attendance numbers stable despite delays.
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