Singles, Women

Germany’s Julia Taubitz followed in the footsteps of compatriot Natalie Geisenberger, who had won three consecutive gold medals in the women’s luge singles. After eight World Championships titles, including two in the women’s singles (2021, 2025), Taubitz won gold, placing first in three runs and second in the first run after a disappointing seventh place at Beijing 2022. The best time in run one was recorded by another German, Merle Fräbel, but a big mistake in run three cost her approximately 1.4 seconds and left her with only eighth place overall despite placing second in runs two and four. Germany won their eighth consecutive gold medal in women’s singles.

Fräbel’s misfortune opened the door to silver for Elīna Bota, although she did not place better than third in any of the four runs. Bota, a two-time bronze medallist at the 2024 World Championships, competed as Elīna Vītola at the 2022 Olympics, but in 2024 married her teammate Mārtiņš Bots. Her medal was Latvia’s first ever in this event. A surprise bronze went to USA luger Ashley Farquharson, who held on to a narrow lead after three rounds over the Italians Verena Hofer and Sandra Robatscher. Farquharson’s greatest previous international success had been a bronze at the U23 World Championships in 2021.