The British Olympic Association (BOA) has announced Rupert Staudinger as Team GB’s sole luge representative for the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games.
The 24-year-old has been selected for his second Games, after finishing 33rd at PyeongChang 2018 where he made his Olympic debut.
Staudinger who achieved his best World Cup result in 2020, placing 17th, hopes to record a top 20 performance in Beijing, improving on his test event result of 31st from last year.
His selection brings Team GB’s total number of selected athletes for Beijing 2022 to 18 from five sports following the announcements of 10 curlers, three figure skaters, three short track speed skaters and one long track speed skater.
Staudinger will be in action on the first day of the Games, with the first two runs of the men’s singles event set for Saturday 5 February. The medals will be decided the following day with runs three and four.
Staudinger competed in PyeongChang alongside AJ Rosen, who sadly passed away earlier this year with cancer. The thoughts of everyone at Team GB remains with the British luge fraternity, especially as we go into the Olympic Winter Games.
Rupert Staudinger said: “I’m really proud to be able to represent Team GB again. I have wonderful memories from PyeongChang, especially taking part with AJ, which are still crystal clear in my mind. I’ll be giving it my best shot and I’m raring and ready to go. The season has been challenging but the Olympic track suits me well and I’m ready to perform my best.”
Georgie Harland, Team GB’s Chef de Mission for Beijing 2022 said: “It is great to welcome Rupert back to Team GB for Beijing 2022. I look forward to watching him in action on the opening day of the competition at the National Sliding Centre in Yanqing.
“It will be a poignant moment for Rupert having competed with AJ (Rosen) in PyeongChang, who sadly passed away recently. I know that Rupert learned a lot from AJ and I am sure he will carry his memory with him as he takes to the track in Beijing.
Gavin Arnold, Team Leader for luge at Beijing 2022 said: “I am absolutely delighted that Rupert has been selected for his second Olympic Games, it’s a fantastic achievement for any athlete and the culmination of four years of hard work and sacrifice.
“Rupert has gone from strength to strength over the Beijing Olympic cycle and had a promising performance at the test event in November. The track in Yanqing really plays to his strengths and I am excited to see what performance he can produce at the Games.”