# Luge at the Winter Olympics

Luge is a winter sport featured at the Winter Olympic Games where a competitor or two-person team rides a flat sled while lying supine (face up) and feet first. The sport is usually contested on a specially designed ice track that allows gravity to increase the sled's speed. The winner normally completes the route with the fastest overall time. It was first contested at the 1964 Winter Olympics, with both men's and women's events and a doubles event. Doubles is technically considered an open event since 1994, but only men have competed in it. German lugers (competing under the IOC country codes of EUA, GDR, FRG and GER at different times since 1964) have dominated the competition, winning 87 medals of 153 possible.

## Summary

| Games | Year | Events | Best Nation |
| 1 → 8 | | | |
| 9 | 1964 | 3 | United Team of Germany (1) |
| 10 | 1968 | 3 | East Germany (1) |
| 11 | 1972 | 3 | East Germany (2) |
| 12 | 1976 | 3 | East Germany (3) |
| 13 | 1980 | 3 | East Germany (4) |
| 14 | 1984 | 3 | East Germany (5) |
| 15 | 1988 | 3 | East Germany (6) |
| 16 | 1992 | 3 | Germany (1) |
| Games | Year | Events | Best Nation |
| 17 | 1994 | 3 | Italy (1) |
| 18 | 1998 | 3 | Germany (2) |
| 19 | 2002 | 3 | Germany (3) |
| 20 | 2006 | 3 | Germany (4) |
| 21 | 2010 | 3 | Germany (5) |
| 22 | 2014 | 4 | Germany (6) |
| 23 | 2018 | 4 | Germany (7) |
| 24 | 2022 | 4 | Germany (8) |
| 25 | | 5 | |

## Events

| Event | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | 26 | Year |
| Men's singles | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 17 |
| Men’s doubles | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 17 |
| Women's singles | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | • | 17 |
| Women's doubles | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | • | 1 |
| Team relay | | | | | | | | | | | | | | • | • | • | • | 4 |
| Total events | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 5 | |

## Medal leaders

Athletes who won at least two gold medals or three medals in total are listed below.
| Athlete | NOC | Event | Olympics | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| Natalie Geisenberger | Germany (GER) | Women's singles Team relay | 2010–2022 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 7 |
| Tobias Arlt | Germany (GER) | Doubles Team relay | 2014–2022 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Tobias Wendl | Germany (GER) | Doubles Team relay | 2014–2022 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 6 |
| Armin Zöggeler | Italy (ITA) | Men's singles | 1994–2014 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 6 |
| Georg Hackl | West Germany (FRG) Germany (GER) | Men's singles | 1988–2006 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 5 |
| Jan Behrendt | East Germany (GDR) Germany (GER) | Doubles | 1988–1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Stefan Krauße | East Germany (GDR) Germany (GER) | Doubles | 1988–1998 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Klaus Bonsack | United Team of Germany (EUA) East Germany (GDR) | Men's singles Doubles | 1964–1972 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 4 |
| Felix Loch | Germany (GER) | Men's singles Team relay | 2010–2014 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 |
| Thomas Köhler | United Team of Germany (EUA) East Germany (GDR) | Men's singles Doubles | 1964–1968 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Paul Hildgartner | Italy (ITA) | Men's singles Doubles | 1972–1988 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Andreas Linger | Austria (AUT) | Doubles | 2006–2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Wolfgang Linger | Austria (AUT) | Doubles | 2006–2014 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| Hans Rinn | East Germany (GDR) | Men's singles Doubles | 1976–1980 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 3 |
| Silke Kraushaar | Germany (GER) | Women's singles | 1998–2006 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Tatjana Hüfner | Germany (GER) | Women's singles | 2006–2014 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 3 |
| Albert Demchenko | Russia (RUS) | Men's singles Team relay | 1994–2014 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| Markus Prock | Austria (AUT) | Men's singles | 1984–2002 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 |
| Andris Šics | Latvia (LAT) | Doubles Team relay | 2006–2014 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Juris Šics | Latvia (LAT) | Doubles Team relay | 2006–2014 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 3 |
| Norbert Hahn | East Germany (GDR) | Doubles | 1976–1980 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Steffi Martin | East Germany (GDR) | Women's singles | 1984–1988 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
| Sylke Otto | Germany (GER) | Women's singles | 1992 2002–2006 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 |

## Medal table

Sources (after the 2022 Winter Olympics): Accurate as of 2022 Winter Olympics.
| Rank | Nation | Gold | Silver | Bronze | Total |
| 1 | Germany (GER) | 22 | 12 | 9 | 43 |
| 2 | East Germany (GDR) | 13 | 8 | 8 | 29 |
| 3 | Italy (ITA) | 7 | 4 | 7 | 18 |
| 4 | Austria (AUT) | 6 | 10 | 9 | 25 |
| 5 | United Team of Germany (EUA) | 2 | 2 | 1 | 5 |
| 6 | West Germany (FRG) | 1 | 4 | 5 | 10 |
| 7 | Soviet Union (URS) | 1 | 2 | 3 | 6 |
| 8 | United States (USA) | 0 | 3 | 3 | 6 |
| 9 | Russia (RUS) | 0 | 3 | 0 | 3 |
| 10 | Latvia (LAT) | 0 | 1 | 4 | 5 |
| 11 | Canada (CAN) | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 |
| 12 | ROC (ROC) | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 |
| Totals (12 entries) | Totals (12 entries) | 52 | 50 | 51 | 153 |
Note: two gold medals handed in the 1972 doubles competition.

## Number of lugers by nation

| Nation | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | Years |
| Argentina (ARG) | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Australia (AUS) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 7 |
| Austria (AUT) | | | | | | | | | 9 | 9 | 8 | 7 | 10 | 7 | 7 | 7 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 16 |
| Bermuda (BER) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 4 |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina (BIH) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | 1 | 3 |
| Brazil (BRA) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | | | 1 |
| Bulgaria (BUL) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 2 | | | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| Canada (CAN) | | | | | | | | | 1 | 7 | 4 | 8 | 4 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 6 | 16 |
| China (CHN) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 1 |
| Chinese Taipei (TPE) | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | 3 | 2 | | | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Croatia (CRO) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | 1 |
| Czech Republic (CZE) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 4 | 6 |
| Czechoslovakia (TCH) | | | | | | | | | 6 | 6 | | 4 | 3 | 3 | 2 | 4 | | | | | | | | | 7 |
| East Germany (GDR) | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 10 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Estonia (EST) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | 2 |
| France (FRA) | | | | | | | | | | 5 | 1 | 1 | | | 1 | 3 | | | 3 | | 1 | 1 | | | 8 |
| Georgia (GEO) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | | | | 2 | | 1 | 1 | 4 |
| Germany (GER) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Great Britain (GBR) | | | | | | | | | 2 | 2 | 6 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 1 | | 1 | 2 | 1 | | 2 | 1 | 14 |
| Greece (GRE) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | | | | | | | 2 |
| India (IND) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | 5 |
| Independent Olympic Athletes (IOA) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Ireland (IRL) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 |
| Italy (ITA) | | | | | | | | | 7 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 9 | 9 | 9 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 8 | 16 |
| Japan (JPN) | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 3 | 6 | 4 | 5 | 3 | 1 | | 1 | 13 |
| Kazakhstan (KAZ) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | 2 |
| Latvia (LAT) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 6 | 8 | 10 | 8 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 9 |
| Liechtenstein (LIE) | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | | | | | | | 8 |
| Moldova (MDA) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | | 1 | 5 |
| Netherlands Antilles (AHO) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| New Zealand (NZL) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | 2 |
| Norway (NOR) | | | | | | | | | 4 | 2 | 3 | 7 | | 2 | | 2 | 3 | | | | | 3 | | | 8 |
| Olympic Athletes from Russia (OAR) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | | 1 |
| Philippines (PHI) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| Poland (POL) | | | | | | | | | 8 | 9 | 8 | 8 | | | | 2 | 2 | 2 | | 3 | 2 | 5 | 6 | 4 | 12 |
| Puerto Rico (PUR) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| ROC | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | 1 |
| Romania (ROU) | | | | | | | | | | | | | 4 | 3 | 1 | 3 | 4 | 3 | 4 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 5 | 4 | 12 |
| Russia (RUS) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 7 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | | | 6 |
| Slovakia (SVK) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 2 | 1 | 4 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 5 | 5 | 8 |
| Slovenia (SLO) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 1 | | 1 | | 3 |
| South Korea (KOR) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Soviet Union (URS) | | | | | | | | | | | 7 | 6 | 7 | 10 | 10 | | | | | | | | | | 5 |
| Spain (ESP) | | | | | | | | | | 4 | | | | | 1 | 1 | | | | | | | | | 3 |
| Sweden (SWE) | | | | | | | | | | 5 | | 5 | 4 | 2 | 2 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 2 | | | | | 2 | 10 |
| Switzerland (SUI) | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | 2 | | | | 1 | 1 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 10 |
| Tonga (TGA) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | | | 1 |
| Ukraine (UKR) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | 6 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 8 |
| Unified Team (EUN) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 10 | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| United Team of Germany (EUA) | | | | | | | | | 9 | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 |
| United States (USA) | | | | | | | | | 9 | 8 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 9 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 10 | 8 | 16 |
| Venezuela (VEN) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 4 | 1 | | | | | 3 |
| Virgin Islands (ISV) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 1 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 2 | | | | | | 5 |
| West Germany (FRG) | | | | | | | | | | 8 | 10 | 8 | 7 | 8 | 7 | | | | | | | | | | 6 |
| Yugoslavia (YUG) | | | | | | | | | | | | | | 3 | | 2 | | | | | | | | | 2 |
| Nations | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 12 | 14 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 17 | 22 | 22 | 25 | 24 | 26 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 24 | 26 | |
| Lugers | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | 68 | 85 | 83 | 94 | 80 | 81 | 90 | 89 | 92 | 93 | 110 | 108 | 110 | 108 | 110 | 106 | |
| Year | 24 | 28 | 32 | 36 | 48 | 52 | 56 | 60 | 64 | 68 | 72 | 76 | 80 | 84 | 88 | 92 | 94 | 98 | 02 | 06 | 10 | 14 | 18 | 22 | |