Germany’s Julia Taubitz captured gold in the women’s singles luge final (Run 4) at the Milano Cortina 2026, clocking 52.707 seconds in the decisive run on the Olympic sliding track. The fourth and final run determined the medal positions, with margins measured in hundredths of a second in one of the tightest competitions of the Games.
Taubitz’s composed and technically precise slide secured Germany another Olympic title in a discipline long dominated by the nation.
Medalists Decided by Fine Margins
Latvia’s Elina Ieva Vitola claimed silver with 52.921, while the United States’ Ashley Farquharson earned bronze in 52.909, edging ahead in a tightly packed field.
Germany’s Merle Fräbel finished fourth with 52.779, narrowly outside the podium positions. Italy’s Sandra Robatscher placed fifth in 52.905, delivering a strong performance on home ice.
Latvia’s Kendija Aparjode secured sixth with 52.919, while Italy’s Verena Hofer finished seventh in 52.925.
Germany’s Depth on Display
Germany placed multiple athletes inside the top eight, with Anna Berreiter finishing eighth in 52.946. Switzerland’s Natalie Maag followed in ninth, while Canada’s Embyr-Lee Susko completed the top ten in 53.090.
Austria’s trio of Dorothea Schwarz, Lisa Schulte, and Hannah Prock placed 11th through 13th respectively, maintaining competitive consistency across the event.
Technical Precision in the Final Run
Run 4 proved decisive, with athletes required to balance maximum speed with clean cornering lines. Even slight steering corrections or small exit errors cost critical hundredths.
Taubitz’s gold-medal slide was marked by smooth transitions through technical curves and controlled aerodynamics on the straight sections. Her ability to maintain composure under final-run pressure ultimately separated her from a closely packed field.
Competitive Field Beyond the Top Ten
Canada’s Trinity Ellis finished 15th, while the United States’ Summer Britcher placed 16th. Ukraine’s Yulianna Tunytska and Sweden’s Tove Kohala completed the top 18.
The depth of the field highlighted the increasing global competitiveness of women’s luge, with times separated by mere fractions of a second throughout the standings.
Conclusion
The women’s singles luge final (Run 4) at the Winter Olympics 2026 delivered a thrilling finish, with Julia Taubitz claiming gold in 52.707 seconds. Silver went to Elina Ieva Vitola and bronze to Ashley Farquharson, rounding out a tightly contested podium in one of the Games’ most precise and high-speed disciplines.