Albert Demchenko

Albert Demchenko, who started lugeing at the age of 12, was initially a doubles luger, but soon switched to singles and later in the 2000s, became one of the top single lugers of the World. Demchenko won the singles silver at the 2006 Olympics, two silvers (singles and mixed team) at the 2012 World Championships and was European singles champion in 2006 and 2010 and was on the European mixed team champion in 2012. He also won singles silvers at the 1996 and 2008 European Championships and doubles bronze at the 1996 European Championships. Demchenko was the overall World Cup singles champion in 2004-05, finishing second overall in 2009-10 and third in the 2007-08 and 2010-11 seasons. Through 2014 Demchenko has competed in seven Winter Olympics, most all-time together with Japanese ski jumper Noriaki Kasai.