Fischnaller Wins First Gold of the Season in Park City

From Park City, USA

(December 16, 2022) – Italy’s Dominik Fischnaller came from behind in the second heat to win his first gold medal of the 2022/2023 World Cup season in Park City.

Fischnaller entered the second heat in third place behind perennial medal favorite Felix Loch and heat one leader, Slovakia’s Jozef Ninis.

On the second heat Fischnaller put down the fastest run of the race to move into the lead with only Loch and Ninis to go. Loch was next, and while his second run was seventh quickest it was enough to edge out Austria’s David Glerischer for the lead.

That left Jozef Ninis to go. Ninis, an Olympian since 2006, had trouble at the top of his second run, and fell down the order. He crossed the finish line in eighth place for his best finish since the 2018/2019 season (Sigulda).

That gave Fischnaller his first win of the season, but third straight medal between World Cup and Sprint World Cup events. Loch finished second, and Gleirscher third.

The win for Fischnaller was the eighth of his career.

American Tucker West had the fourth quickest run in both heats on his way to a fourth place finish. Wolfgang Kindl finished fifth for Austria, while Germany’s David Nößler finished sixth.

Chris Mazdzer finished the race in tenth place, one spot ahead of Australia’s Alexander Ferlazzo. Jonny Gustafson finished 15th on the third American sled.

In the overalls standings, Fischnaller’s victory moved him within 15 points of Kindl. Nico Gleischer sits third, while David Gleirscher and Felix Loch sit tied for fourth.

Results: