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Epic Battle: Zoeggeler bests Hackl in luge event
By Brady Snyder
Deseret News Olympic specialist
BEAR HOLLOW — In what might have been the most epic luge competition in Olympic history, Germany's Georg Hackl failed in his bid to become the first Winter Olympian to take gold in four consecutive Olympics Monday.
Instead, the German settled for silver as he was crushed by Italian superstar Armin Zoeggeler, all under the watchful eye of International Olympic Committee President Jacques Rogge, on hand to see if Hackl would make history.
While Hackl settled for silver, Rogge and the 14,000 other spectators were treated to a heavyweight battle unseen in previous Olympic competition as the three greatest sliders of the past 15 years gathered for one final slugfest. Zoeggeler, Hackl and Austria's Markus Prock finished one-two-three as the luge legends melted the ice, besting the track record five times.
In the final heat of the four-run competition, which spanned two days, Prock went third to last.
The Austrian, who established the new track record at 44.271 seconds, slid into first, besting American Adam Heidt, who settled for fourth — the highest American singles finish in Olympic luge competition.
Next came Hackl, who cut through the chilly air, toes pointed and stretched to the finish. As the German crossed the line he was .013 seconds faster than Prock.
Hackl then was positioned for gold with just one slider left — the leader Zoeggeler. He calmly knifed his way through the track winning by .329 seconds — an eternity in luge time.
By sweeping the podium Monday, the legendary trio now has four Olympic golds, five silvers and three bronze medals among them.
Hackl, the greatest slider ever, added a silver to his mantel, which already holds three golds and a silver. The medal allowed the German to become the first Winter Olympian to claim a medal in five consecutive Games.
For both Prock, 37, and Hackl, 35, it was likely their last Olympics. And while the gold went to the 28-year-old Zoeggeler, much of the attention went to Hackl.
At a press conference following the race, the normally stoic German broke down in tears, saying the medal was for his dad, who passed away in December.
"I want to dedicate it to my father," he said.
Earlier in the conference, the German was asked if he was disappointed at not making history with four straight golds.
"If I was an American, I would just say (expletive deleted) the history," said Hackl, who claimed to be happy with silver.
Rogge said he attended the luge finals in hopes of seeing Hackl win his fourth straight gold. Afterward, Rogge congratulated Hackl but left without a word to the champion Zoeggeler.
Heidt praised the crowd for helping him into fourth.
"We did make history," Heidt said. "It might not be a medal, but it's the highest U.S. men's finish."
Heidt, the 24-year-old blond from Northport, N.Y., who listens to Jimmy Buffett to calm his nerves between runs, raced well but was simply outmatched by the icons.
"That was a pretty intense race, racing against those guys," he said.
E-MAIL: bsnyder@desnews.com
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February 12, 2002
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