Olympic luge champion Felix Loch announces his father's retirement as national coach

Three-time Olympic luge champion Felix Loch announced his father Norbert Loch's retirement as national coach during the World Championships in Altenberg. "My dad is stepping down after the season. Patric Leitner will take over," said the 34-year-old, who finished third in the title race on Saturday when his team-mate Max Langenhan won. Norbert Loch (61) has been head coach of the German luge team since 2008. His contract expires in 2026.

The 46-year-old Leitner was absent from the German men's World Championship gala in the single-seater competition in Altenberg. The double Olympic champion from 2002 had broken his foot while playing badminton with the team in an Altenberg sports hall and is now in hospital. Felix Loch said of Leitner: "We are in a very, very good position. We have a very, very good successor. I'm not worried about the next few years."