Barbara Niedernhuber

Biographical information

RolesCompeted in Olympic Games
SexFemale
Full nameBarbara•Niedernhuber
Used nameBarbara•Niedernhuber
Nick/petnamesBabsi
Born6 June 1974 in Berchtesgaden, Bayern (GER)
Measurements174 cm / 69 kg
AffiliationsWSV Königssee, Schönau a. Königssee (GER)
NOC Germany
Medals OG
Gold 0
Silver 2
Bronze 0
Total 2

Biography

Barbara Niedernhuber was often called “the eternal runner-up” as, besides her double silver at the 1998 and 2002 Winter Olympics, she was also runner-up at the World Championships in 1999, 2000, 2004 and 2005, placing third in 2001 and 2003, along with third places at the 2000, 2002 and 2006 European Championships. In 2004, Niedernhuber won the gold medal with the mixed team at the Worlds and in 2005 she won the overall World Cup title.

Niedernhuber, Sylke Otto, and Silke Kraushaar dominated international luge in the late 1990s and early 2000s. In 2006 Niedernhuber abruptly retired prior to the start of the season due to a bacterial infection in her ankle that developed after surgery the previous summer. After her active career she joined the German police.

Results

Games Discipline (Sport) / Event NOC / Team Pos Medal As
1998 Winter Olympics Luge GER Barbara Niedernhuber
Singles, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver
2002 Winter Olympics Luge GER Barbara Niedernhuber
Singles, Women (Olympic) 2 Silver

Special Notes