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Beijing 2022: Polish luger finishes 25th after comeback from injury

07.02.2022 06:45
Poland’s Mateusz Sochowicz claimed 25th place in the men’s Olympic luge singles competition on Sunday after making a remarkable comeback to the sport from a serious and potentially career-ending injury in the run-up to the Beijing Games.
Mateusz Sochowicz.
Mateusz Sochowicz.PAP/EPA/Lukas Barth-Tuttas

Germany’s Johannes Ludwig won the gold medal, beating Austria's second-placed Wolfgang Kindl by 0.160 seconds, Poland's PAP news agency reported. 

Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller claimed bronze, finishing 0.951 seconds behind Ludwig. 

For the 36-year-old Ludwig, it was a third Olympic medal, after an individual bronze and a team gold in Pyeongchang four years ago. 

Sochowicz overcomes injury to finish 25th

Meanwhile, Poland’s Sochowicz came 25th despite struggling with a knee injury sustained at the same Yanqing track in November, the PAP news agency reported. 

The Polish luger only returned to training in mid-January, leaving him with little time for Olympic preparation, officials said. The knee was still troubling him during the Olympic competition, PAP reported. 

The 25-year-old Sochowicz said he was “most pleased” with his third run, which “went well.” 

“It’s important ahead of the team relay event,” he added. 

Coach Marek Skowroński told reporters he was proud of Sochowicz’s performance.

“If he had been fully fit, he would have definitely made the top 15,” Skowroński said.

On Monday, the women’s luge singles competition starts at the Beijing Olympics, featuring Poland’s Klaudia Domaradzka.

(pm/gs)

Source: PAP, TVP Sport