Georg Hackl

<h2 id="biography">Biography</h2>
Hackl was born in <a href="/facts/Berchtesgaden/NBdJE2ns">Berchtesgaden</a>, Bavaria. He took up luge as part of his <a href="/facts/Physical_education/brxMYG1X">physical education</a> lessons whilst at school, learning to slide at the <a href="/facts/K%C3%B6nigssee_bobsleigh,_luge,_and_skeleton_track/cA0AzXAf">Königssee track</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:1" href="#fn:1">1</a>
Hackl was known for his rivalry with <a href="/facts/Markus_Prock/SuwyFtaH">Markus Prock</a>, with Prock being dominant in World Cup competition whilst Hackl consistently achieved success at the Winter Olympics. Although Hackl was not as natural an athlete as Prock, he was noted as being extremely skilled at setting up his sled to suit particular ice conditions on a given day. In addition his coach and former luger <a href="/facts/Thomas_Schwab/6oJ2sujB">Thomas Schwab</a> highlighted Hackl's mental strength as being key to his success.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:2" href="#fn:2">2</a>
He won his first Winter Olympic Games <a href="/facts/Luge/kTd5G2S9">luge</a> medal in 1988 in <a href="/facts/Calgary/DrFtRbEH">Calgary</a>, when he finished second in the singles event, while placing fourth in the doubles. Four years later, he improved his performance to win the gold, a feat he repeated in 1994 and 1998. In 1998, he won the gold by clocking the fastest time in all four runs, the first in Olympic history in the men's singles to do so (<a href="/facts/Vera_Zozula/IothPvRN">Vera Zozula</a> of the <a href="/facts/Soviet_Union/m7wWsPto">Soviet Union</a> did that feat in the women's singles event at the <a href="/facts/1980_Winter_Olympics/MPlScv4L">1980 Winter Olympics</a> in <a href="/facts/Lake_Placid,_New_York/KUjeTCh2">Lake Placid</a>, New York). That year he was named as <a href="/facts/German_Sportspersonality_of_the_Year/RsxhoxGo">German Sportsman of the Year</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:3" href="#fn:3">3</a> Hackl won the silver medal again in the <a href="/facts/2002_Winter_Olympic_Games/4AUEu1oB">2002 Games</a>, becoming the first Winter Olympian to win a medal in five consecutive Winter Olympics. Most recently, he placed 7th in the <a href="/facts/Luge_at_the_2006_Winter_Olympics/AgGK7df0">2006 Winter Olympics</a>.
Hackl has retired from active participation and got involved in coaching after the 2006 Winter Olympics. He is responsible for a group of German lugers nicknamed the "Sunshine Training Group", alongside <a href="/facts/Patric_Leitner/HRFRrM3G">Patric Leitner</a>, with Hackl having responsibility for their sleds. Members of the group include <a href="/facts/Felix_Loch/vbJCs2r3">Felix Loch</a>, <a href="/facts/Natalie_Geisenberger/qvp4MhHu">Natalie Geisenberger</a>, <a href="/facts/Tobias_Wendl/KAJ54dX1">Tobias Wendl</a> and <a href="/facts/Tobias_Arlt/1h6t3Cro">Tobias Arlt</a>, who between them took a clean sweep of the gold medals in <a href="/facts/Luge_at_the_2014_Winter_Olympics/HbARxLJG">luge at the 2014 Winter Olympics</a>.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:4" href="#fn:4">4</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:5" href="#fn:5">5</a><a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:6" href="#fn:6">6</a>
Hackl won a total of 22 medals at the <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships/n7khyGGj">FIL World Luge Championships</a>, including ten golds (Men's singles: <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1989/2Na9Y4VJ">1989</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1990/h9GRa83a">1990</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1997/YV0m8Wud">1997</a>; Mixed team: <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1991/PxUNN3NS">1991</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1993/fJ4EDgCY">1993</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1995/B0KUPgTf">1995</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_2000/IeE4NVdL">2000</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_2001/3w1ApthC">2001</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_2003/fbPSD3zl">2003</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_2005/KIY5DXTW">2005</a>), ten silvers (Men's singles: 1991, 1993, 1995, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1996/MFp90WvF">1996</a>, 2001, <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_2004/F5W00gWI">2004</a>, 2005; Men's doubles: <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1987/HERQzHUF">1987</a>, Mixed team: 1996, 1997), and two bronzes (Men's singles: 2000, Mixed team: <a href="/facts/FIL_World_Luge_Championships_1999/oAr2lDkV">1999</a>).

At the <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships/oI0qzIyr">FIL European Luge Championships</a>, Hackl won twelve medals. This included seven golds (Men's singles: <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_1988/8MDwh0fm">1988</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_1990/fvCJaomJ">1990</a>; Mixed team: 1988, <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_1992/72sudzo5">1992</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_1996/uMUI2Ap8">1996</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_2000/rrqeeMUa">2000</a>, <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_2002/z03RXEn8">2002</a>), four silvers (Men's singles: <a href="/facts/FIL_European_Luge_Championships_1994/I5XtHf6o">1994</a>, 2000; Mixed team: 1990, 1994), and one bronze (Men's singles: 1992).
He won the overall <a href="/facts/List_of_Luge_World_Cup_champions/zzgNA6aS">Luge World Cup</a> title in men's singles twice (1988–9, 1989–90) and also had his best overall finish of second in men's doubles twice (1986–7, 1987–8).
Hackl is also a nine-time <a href="/facts/Wok_racing/F2c9kK9N">wok racing</a> world champion.
He was inducted into the <a href="/facts/International_Luge_Federation/r8o9sCRg">International Luge Federation</a>'s Hall of Fame in 2013.<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:7" href="#fn:7">7</a>
In 1999, Hackl married his long-term girlfriend, Margit (née Datzmann).<a class="footnote-ref" id="fnref:8" href="#fn:8">8</a>

<h2 id="see-also">See also</h2>
<ul><li><a href="/facts/List_of_multiple_Olympic_gold_medalists_in_one_event/oD7JzEdb">List of multiple Olympic gold medalists in one event</a></li></ul>

<ul><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20100221081843/http://www.fuzilogik.com/Sports-Library/Luge/Men-s-Luge-Olympic-Medals.html">Fuzilogik Sports – Winter Olympic results – Men's luge</a> at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 21 February 2010)</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070630054011/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/olluge.shtml">Hickoksports.com results on Olympic champions in luge and skeleton.</a> at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 30 June 2007)</li>
<li><a href="https://archive.today/20121204165409/http://www.hickoksports.com/history/worldluge.shtml">Hickok sports information on World champions in luge and skeleton.</a> at <a href="/facts/Archive.today/B9vA7Vmt">archive.today</a> (archived 4 December 2012)</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080325014953/http://www.eiskanal.com/eiskanal-kunstbahnrennrodeln-europameisterschaften.html">List of European luge champions</a> at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 25 March 2008) (in German)</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20070418114726/http://www.olympic.org/uk/athletes/profiles/bio_uk.asp?par_i_id=77927">IOC profile</a></li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080206094147/http://sports123.com/lug/mwc-d.html">List of men's doubles luge World Cup champions since 1978.</a> at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 6 February 2008)</li>
<li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20080206094152/http://sports123.com/lug/mwc-s.html">List of men's singles luge World Cup champions since 1978.</a> at the <a href="/facts/Wayback_Machine/nmQ3a6JC">Wayback Machine</a> (archived 6 February 2008)</li></ul>
<h2 id="external-links">External links</h2>

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Georg Hackl.

<ul><li><a href="https://www.fil-luge.org/en/athletes/georg-hackl#content">Georg Hackl</a> at the <a href="/facts/International_Luge_Federation/r8o9sCRg">International Luge Federation</a> (<a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20190804183524/https://www.fil-luge.org/en/athletes/georg-hackl#content">archive</a>)</li>
<li><a href="https://olympics.com/en/athletes/georg-hackl">Georg Hackl</a> at <a href="/facts/International_Olympic_Committee/yX4MhHXk">Olympics.com</a> </li><li><a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20210415111337/https://www.olympic.org/georg-hackl">Georg Hackl</a> at Olympic.org (archived) </li>
<li><a href="https://www.olympedia.org/athletes/86358">Georg Hackl</a> at <a href="/facts/Olympedia/dE2x9aLq">Olympedia</a> </li></ul>

<h2 id="references">References</h2>

<ol>
<li id="fn:1">Layden, Tim (9 February 1998). "Born To Luge Georg Hackl is a techno whiz, Markus Prock is a natural athlete. The Olympics have belonged to Hackl, the World Cup circuit to Prock. Now, the final act of one of the greatest, if most obscure, rivalries in sports is about to begin". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 14 March 2016. <a href="https://www.si.com/vault/1998/02/09/238274/born-to-luge-georg-hackl-is-a-techno-whiz-markus-prock-is-a-natural-athlete-the-olympics-have-belonged-to-hackl-the-world-cup-circuit-to-prock-now-the-final-act-of-one-of-the-greatest-if-most-obscure-rivalries-in-sports-is-about" target="_blank">https://www.si.com/vault/1998/02/09/238274/born-to-luge-georg-hackl-is-a-techno-whiz-markus-prock-is-a-natural-athlete-the-olympics-have-belonged-to-hackl-the-world-cup-circuit-to-prock-now-the-final-act-of-one-of-the-greatest-if-most-obscure-rivalries-in-sports-is-about</a> <a href="#fnref:1" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:2">Layden, Tim (9 February 1998). "Born To Luge Georg Hackl is a techno whiz, Markus Prock is a natural athlete. The Olympics have belonged to Hackl, the World Cup circuit to Prock. Now, the final act of one of the greatest, if most obscure, rivalries in sports is about to begin". Sports Illustrated. Retrieved 14 March 2016. <a href="https://www.si.com/vault/1998/02/09/238274/born-to-luge-georg-hackl-is-a-techno-whiz-markus-prock-is-a-natural-athlete-the-olympics-have-belonged-to-hackl-the-world-cup-circuit-to-prock-now-the-final-act-of-one-of-the-greatest-if-most-obscure-rivalries-in-sports-is-about" target="_blank">https://www.si.com/vault/1998/02/09/238274/born-to-luge-georg-hackl-is-a-techno-whiz-markus-prock-is-a-natural-athlete-the-olympics-have-belonged-to-hackl-the-world-cup-circuit-to-prock-now-the-final-act-of-one-of-the-greatest-if-most-obscure-rivalries-in-sports-is-about</a> <a href="#fnref:2" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:3">"Hackl rodelt ins Eheglück" [Hackl slides into marital bliss]. spiegel.de (in German). 16 May 1999. Retrieved 13 January 2019. <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/maenner-hackl-rodelt-ins-eheglueck-a-22426.html" target="_blank">http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/maenner-hackl-rodelt-ins-eheglueck-a-22426.html</a> <a href="#fnref:3" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:4">Palmer, Justin (11 February 2014). "Geisenberger wins gold but team discord evident". reuters.com. Retrieved 11 February 2014. <a href="https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-luge-women-idUSBREA1A1TU20140211" target="_blank">https://www.reuters.com/article/us-olympics-luge-women-idUSBREA1A1TU20140211</a> <a href="#fnref:4" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:5">Doyle, Amanda (18 July 2013). "Americans hoping to upset German's luge dynasty". NBC Olympics. Archived from the original on 2 March 2014. Retrieved 12 February 2014. <a href="https://web.archive.org/web/20140302110546/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/americans-hoping-upset-germans-luge-dynasty" target="_blank">https://web.archive.org/web/20140302110546/https://www.nbcolympics.com/news/americans-hoping-upset-germans-luge-dynasty</a> <a href="#fnref:5" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:6">Harder, Wolfgang (May 2014). "All four gold medals go to the "Sunshine Training Group"" (PDF). FIL Magazine. Vol. 1, no. 51. Berchtesgaden, Germany: International Luge Federation. p. 9. Archived (PDF) from the original on 9 October 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2019. <a href="https://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/fil-magazin-2014-1-web.pdf" target="_blank">https://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/fil-magazin-2014-1-web.pdf</a> <a href="#fnref:6" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:7">"Georg Hackl: official induction to the "Hall of Fame"". International Luge Federation. 10 January 2013. Retrieved 12 February 2014. <a href="http://www.fil-luge.org/index.php?id=424&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=20361&cHash=da95c664107d69c6aa0858acf7a38bc9" target="_blank">http://www.fil-luge.org/index.php?id=424&tx_ttnews%5Btt_news%5D=20361&cHash=da95c664107d69c6aa0858acf7a38bc9</a> <a href="#fnref:7" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
<li id="fn:8">"Hackl rodelt ins Eheglück" [Hackl slides into marital bliss]. spiegel.de (in German). 16 May 1999. Retrieved 13 January 2019. <a href="http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/maenner-hackl-rodelt-ins-eheglueck-a-22426.html" target="_blank">http://www.spiegel.de/sport/sonst/maenner-hackl-rodelt-ins-eheglueck-a-22426.html</a> <a href="#fnref:8" class="footnote-back-ref">↩</a></li>
</ol>

Georg Hackl open-in-new

Georg Hackl