Female German Lugers Sweep One Day After Coach Loses Leg

Competing one day after their coach lost a leg in a freak accident, Germany’s female lugers swept the first four places at the World Cup on Saturday.

On Friday, German coach Sepp Letz lost his left leg below the knee when he slipped on the track and fell in front of Bethany Calcaterra-McMahon of the United States while she was practicing.

Doctors were unable to re-attach the lower part of his leg.

“It hurt us all, especially when we heard he’d lose the foot,” said Jana Bode, who led the Germans on Saturday with a time of 1 minute 22.824 seconds.

Calcaterra-McMahon was the top U.S. finisher Saturday, placing fifth at 1:23.512. Teammate Cammy Myler was sixth at 1:23.747.

The two-man luge was won by Olympic champions Stefan Krausse and Jan Behrendt of Germany in 1:23.005. Steffen Skel and Steffen Woeller, also of Germany, finished second at 1:23.198.

Americans Chris Thorpe and Gordy Sheer were third at 1:23.325.