Hansjörg Raffl

During his career Hansjörg Raffl competed in both singles and doubles, but he was most successful in his specialty, doubles. In 1974 he became a member of the national team. Early in his career he teamed-up with Alfred Silginer, competing with him until 1980. The next season he started with Karl Brunner before he and Norbert Huber formed one of the most long-lasting and successful couples in luge history. Raffl made his first World Cup podium in 1979, winning his first World Cup race in 1982, both in doubles. In the overall standings he was ranked second in singles in 1979 and won eight trophies in doubles, a record he achieved together with Huber.

Raffl participated in five consecutive Olympic Winter Games. At Sarajevo in 1984 a fall dropped his doubles team from second at the split to a ninth place finish. Four years later he could not compete in doubles, because his partner was ill. Raffl took both his medals in doubles, winning bronze in 1992 and silver in 1994, when they finished behind another Italian team with Huber’s brother Wilfried Huber and Kurt Brugger. During his international career (1978-94) Raffl won nine World Championship medals, two of them gold – 1989 team and 1990 doubles, along with four silver and three bronze medals. Raffl won seven medals at the European Championships – two gold, two silver and three bronze. After his active career Raffl became coach of the Italian national team.