Berchtesgaden (RWH) The international world of Luge, Bobsleigh and Skeleton mourns the death of Sepp Lenz. The former luger, former national coach and one of the fathers of the artificial ice track at Königssee passed away on May 3, 2023 at the age of 89 in his Berchtesgaden home. "With Sepp Lenz, we are not only losing a long-time track construction expert of the very first order, who could read the ice like no other, created track profiles in the ice with his magic and supported the sliding sports with his immeasurable expertise until his death. He was the master of all ice masters. But most importantly, we lost a true friend who will be missed by all of us. His humility and gratitude despite his great successes was unique. Our thoughts are with his family and friends." said the President of the International Bobsleigh & Skeleton Federation (IBSF) Ivo Ferriani, paying tribute to the deceased.
For many years, Lenz was a member of the track commission. Numerous Olympic tracks were built thanks to the energetic support of the Berchtesgaden native. The former national luge coach (1965 - 1996) rendered special services in his home country. Without his commitment, the sport of luge, bobsleigh and later skeleton at Königssee would not exist. From the construction of the natural ice track from 1959 to the construction of the world's first artificial ice track in 1968 to numerous modernizations: Sepp Lenz was always in the forefront at Königssee.
Under his leadership as national luge coach, his protégés - including three-time Olympic champion Georg Hackl as a "role model" - won a total of 96 medals at Olympic Games, World and European Championships. As an active luger, Lenz won European Championship gold in 1962 and five German championships. In 1964, he had to give up his career due to a serious injury he suffered while training for the Winter Olympics in Innsbruck.
The entire IBSF will always retain respectful memories of Sepp Lenz.
Photo: Hans-Joachim Bittner / BSD
