Emanuel Rieder (left) and Simon Kainzwaldner aim to cause a sensation. © FELICE CALABRO' / Felice Calabro'

For the big dream: This luge duo is reinventing itself.

Luge athletes are enjoying a boom in Cortina d'Ampezzo. The next medals will be awarded on Wednesday. A South Tyrolean duo shared their special story beforehand.

February 11, 2026

From Cortina d'Ampezzo

Emanuel Rieder (32) and Simon Kainzwaldner (31) are two veterans in the luge scene. And although the doubles team has been racing down ice tracks around the world for years, they reinvented themselves last spring. "We didn't have a good season, so we said to ourselves: We have to do everything in our power to be ready for the Olympics – so that we have nothing to reproach ourselves for in the end."

This "everything within our power" can be translated into other words: Rieder from Meransen and Kainzwaldner from Villanders attempted something that hadn't been done very often in the luge scene. The two built their own sled. "It was a mammoth project and an incredible challenge," explains Kainzwaldner, a trained carpenter who put all his craftsmanship to use. "With the help of local sponsors, we finally succeeded and finished our own sled," the duo said.

At the Olympics: But the other sled

However, the new sled won't be used at the Olympic Games. There, the doubles teams will use the sled provided by the team. "We considered both options and decided to use the team's sled. It felt faster on the Olympic track."

“We are much more mentally liberated.” Simon Kainzwaldner

Nevertheless, Simon Kainzwaldner emphasizes: “I would do it again in a heartbeat. We learned an incredible amount and met people who helped us in other areas as well. Furthermore, we are now much more relaxed mentally: We know that we have done everything possible to be ready for the Olympics.”

Nailer/Malleier in ambush

The medals in the doubles luge will be awarded on Wednesday. The men will compete in their two runs at 5:51 p.m. and 7:44 p.m., the women at 5:00 p.m. and 6:53 p.m. From a South Tyrolean perspective, in addition to Rieder/Kainzwaldner, two other South Tyroleans are competing: Ivan Nagler and Fabian Malleier both reached the podium for the first time this season and are therefore more than just a dark horse. "The feeling on the track is good. We made a few small mistakes in training and therefore know what we need to pay attention to," said Malleier from Völlan.

Marion Oberhofer and Andrea Vötter (right) are medal hopefuls. © Felice Calabro

Perhaps the best medal chances lie with the doubles team of Andrea Vötter and Marion Oberhofer. They have been competing in this newly created event since its inception (previously there was only men's doubles) and have already reached the podium twice this year. "I have to say, I'm still pretty calm. I'm enjoying the Olympic atmosphere," said Vötter, while Oberhofer added: "We complement each other well. Let's see what happens in the end."