Sylke Otto

Sylke Otto (born 7 July 1969 in Karl-Marx-Stadt) is a former German luger who competed from 1991 to 2007. Competing in three Winter Olympics, she won the gold medal in the women's singles event in 2002 and 2006.

Sylke Otto

Otto in 2012
Medal record
Women's luge
Representing  Germany
Olympic Games
Gold medal – first place2002 Salt Lake CityWomen's singles
Gold medal – first place2006 TurinWomen's singles
World Championships
Gold medal – first place2000 St. MoritzWomen's singles
Gold medal – first place2001 CalgaryWomen's singles
Gold medal – first place2003 SiguldaWomen's singles
Gold medal – first place2003 SiguldaMixed team
Gold medal – first place2005 Park CityWomen's singles
Gold medal – first place2005 Park CityMixed team
Silver medal – second place1997 IglsMixed team
Silver medal – second place2000 St. MoritzMixed team
Silver medal – second place2001 CalgaryMixed team
Bronze medal – third place1999 KönigsseeWomen's singles
Bronze medal – third place1999 KönigsseeMixed team
Bronze medal – third place2004 NaganoWomen's singles
World Cup Championships
Gold medal – first place1994-95Women's singles
Gold medal – first place1999-00Women's singles
Gold medal – first place2002-03Women's singles
Gold medal – first place2003-04Women's singles
Silver medal – second place1998-99Women's singles
Silver medal – second place2000-01Women's singles
Silver medal – second place2001-02Women's singles
Silver medal – second place2005-06Women's singles
Bronze medal – third place2004-05Women's singles
European Championships
Gold medal – first place1990 IglsMixed team
Gold medal – first place1992 WinterbergMixed team
Gold medal – first place2000 WinterbergWomen's singles
Gold medal – first place2000 WinterbergMixed team
Gold medal – first place2002 AltenbergWomen's singles
Silver medal – second place1992 WinterbergWomen's singles
Silver medal – second place2002 AltenbergMixed team
Bronze medal – third place2004 OberhofWomen's singles

Otto won twelve medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with six golds (Women's singles: 2000, 2001, 2003, 2005; Mixed team: 2003, 2005), three silvers (Mixed team: 1997, 2000, 2001), and three bronzes (Women's singles: 1999, 2004; Mixed team: 1999).

She also won eight medals at the FIL European Luge Championships with five golds (Women's singles: 2000, 2002; Mixed team: 1990, 1992, 2000), two silvers (Women's singles: 1992, Mixed team: 2002), and one bronze (Women's singles: 2004). Otto finished in the top three of the Luge World Cup standings every year from 1999 to 2006, winning the overall title four times (1994-5, 1999–2000, 2002–3, 2003–4). She won a record 37 World Cup races in total during her career.

Retirement

She retired from the sport on 12 January 2007 due to pregnancy. It was also due to a crash suffered at Königssee, Germany the previous week followed by watching the crash of Russia's Albert Demtschenko at Oberhof, Germany that same week. Otto had initially planned on retiring at the World Luge Championships in Igls, Austria (Located southeast of Innsbruck) in February, but her and Demtschenko's accident changed that. She has one daughter Sina born on 29 May 2007. A retirement ceremony for Otto took place prior to the start of the women's singles event at the 2008 FIL World Luge Championships in Oberhof, Germany on 25 January.

Other information

Otto was one of the torch bearers for the 2004 Summer Olympics in Athens, Greece as it traveled through Berlin, Germany.

References
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