Luge building off Sochi results

The legacy of the 1988 Winter Olympics is benefitting athletes training in Calgary. The Luge program continues to develop world class athletes. Results at the Olympic Winter Games in Sochi, although heartbreakingly close, were the best ever. The team had three fourth place finishes, just off the podium.

Building off of these best ever results, the 2015 season was a positive first year of the Olympic quadrennial leading to the Pyeong Chang Games in 2018. Alex Gough won a bronze medal at this year's World Championships as well as three silver medals on the World Cup circuit. The relay team also won two bronze medals in World Cups this season. Three-time Olympian Sam Edney contributed with his first Gold medal at the World Cup in Calgary. At that same competition Arianne Jones achieved a podium result winning a bronze and Tristan Walker and Justin Snith won bronze in pairs.

The athletes are a big part of their own success, but today's sport reality also involves a professional support team. Jeremiah Barnert, strength and conditioning coach and Ryan Morrison, physiotherapist travelled with the team for the 2014- 2015 competition season. Barnert says that the Integrated Support Team and the coaches work together closely and its impact on the day-to-day training is substantial. Gough notes that having Barnert travelling with the team helps maintain a consistent level of expertise. When traveling Barnert also assists in analyzing Luge starts which are critical to a good run.

The 2014-2015 season also had its challenges. Gough and Edney had to adapt changes in the schedule. After Sochi Games, Gough decided to focus more attention on working towards her Engineering degree. Edney was recovering from a back and hand injury. With the help of the IST they were able to manage training and perform at their best during the competition season.

Looking forward, Barnert notes that there is still work to be done. He says that the luge athletes need to learn from every training session and maximize their recovery with excellent nutrition and rest when there are significant loading phases during the training year.

The 2014-2015 competition season is now complete and the athletes are now in a rest and recovery phase. The IST and the coaches however are evaluating the past season and putting their plans together for the World Championships in 2016 and the Pyeong Chang Olympics in 2018.

Canadian Sport Institute Calgary: @csicalgary

Photo by Dave Holland: @csicalgaryphoto