“Huge loss” for Germany: Toboggan legend Hackl becomes Austria coach

“Huge loss” for Germany
Toboggan legend Hackl becomes Austria coach

The German luge legend Georg Hackl will switch to the Austrian Toboggan Association (ÖRV) as a trainer. The three-time Olympic champion confirms a very lucrative offer. The German bobsleigh and sled association reacts sadly, the departure of the Olympic champion Felix Loch is “extremely painful”.

Luge legend Georg Hackl is moving to the coaching staff of the Austrian association, where his long-time rival Markus Prock has been president since 2018. Prock approached him with an offer, Hackl explained. “Together with my athletes we rocked the toboggan world, but now it’s time to go. The offer was lucrative for me,” said the 55-year-old to “Münchner Merkur” and “tz”.

The Bobsleigh and Sled Association for Germany (BSD), for which Hackl previously worked as a trainer, had previously confirmed corresponding media reports to the SID. The three-time Olympic champion is moving to the Austrian Toboggan Association (ÖRV) on May 1st.

Hackl’s departure is a “huge loss” for the BSD, according to BSD board member Alexander Resch. After all, the 55-year-old is “the face of tobogganing”. “No problems with the association were decisive” for the change, Resch continued. Rather, Hackl wants to take on a new challenge.

“extremely painful”

“He was a leading figure,” said sporting director Thomas Schwab: “Georg saw the change as the last chance to really develop professionally.” He spoke to Hackl for a long time, Schwab said, “but the offer was too attractive for him.”

The three-time Olympic champion Felix Loch regretted Hackl’s departure in “Merkur/tz”: “The fact that Schorsch is leaving us obviously hurts after all the many years together. For me he was more than just a coach. I have a lot to do with him owe.”

Hackl last worked as a coach for the German lugers at the Olympic Games in Beijing and was jointly responsible for winning all four gold medals. During his career he has won three Olympic gold and two silver medals. There are also three world championship titles in single-seaters. In November 2020 he was inducted into the Hall of Fame of German Sports. According to media reports, the 55-year-old will be officially introduced on Thursday as part of the coaching team in Austria.

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