Armin Zöggeler is a luge

Luge

A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...

r and double Olympic champion who is an Italian national. He is one of the most successful men in the sport, nicknamed Il Cannibale ("The Cannibal"), for his notable series of victories, or The Iceblood Champion, for his always cold, rational approach to the races.

Zöggeler was born in Meran, South Tyrol

South Tyrol

South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...

. A Carabiniere

Carabinieri

The Carabinieri is the national gendarmerie of Italy, policing both military and civilian populations, and is a branch of the armed forces.-Early history:...

 by profession, he began to luge at a very young age, over natural tracks. He won the junior World Cup when he was 14, and made his debut with the Italian national team at the age of 19. Despite a lack of tracks in Italy until the construction of the Cesana Pariol

Cesana Pariol

Cesana Pariol was the venue for bobsled, luge and skeleton during the 2006 Winter Olympics in Turin, Italy. The track, built for the games, is located in Cesana...

 track for the 2006 Winter Olympics

2006 Winter Olympics

The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...

, he evolved into one of the most effective lugers ever.

Zöggeler is the only Italian (together with Edoardo Mangiarotti

Edoardo Mangiarotti

Edoardo Mangiarotti is an Italian fencer. He has won more Olympic titles and World championships than any other fencer in the history of the sport. His name is coupled with 21 titles including six Olympic individual and team gold, five silver and two bronze medals from 1936 to 1960.-About...

) to have won at least a medal in five consecutive editions of Olympic Games (Summer Olympics included) with medals in the men's singles event that include two golds (2002

2002 Winter Olympics

The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...

, 2006

2006 Winter Olympics

The 2006 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XX Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Turin, Italy from February 10, 2006, through February 26, 2006. This marked the second time Italy hosted the Olympic Winter Games, the first being the VII Olympic Winter...

), one silver (1998

1998 Winter Olympics

The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...

), and two bronze (1994

1994 Winter Olympics

The 1994 Winter Olympics, officially known as the XVII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 12 to 27 February 1994 in and around Lillehammer, Norway. Lillehammer failed to win the bid for the 1992 event. Lillehammer was awarded the games in 1988, after having beat...

, 2010

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...

). He also has fifteen medals at the FIL World Luge Championships, including six golds (Men's singles: 1995

FIL World Luge Championships 1995

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 1999

FIL World Luge Championships 1999

The FIL World Luge Championships 1999 took place in Königssee, Germany for a record fifth time. Königssee had hosted the event previously in 1969, 1970, 1974, and 1979...

, 2001

FIL World Luge Championships 2001

The FIL World Luge Championships 2001 took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the third time after hosting the event previously in 1990 and 1993.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 2003

FIL World Luge Championships 2003

The FIL World Luge Championships 2003 took place in Sigulda, Latvia. The team event was adjusted to one nation per team at these championships.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 2005

FIL World Luge Championships 2005

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 2011

FIL World Luge Championships 2011

The FIL World Luge Championships 2011 took place 28-30 January 2011 in Cesana, Italy at the Cesana Pariol bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track. A total of 19 countries competed.-Medalists:-Men's singles:...

), five silvers (Men's singles: 2000

FIL World Luge Championships 2000

The FIL World Luge Championships 2000 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland. This marked the only time since the 1981 world championships that the event has taken place on a naturally refrigerated track.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:...

, 2007

FIL World Luge Championships 2007

The FIL World Luge Championships 2007 took place February 2-4, 2007 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Igls, Austria for the fourth time after having hosted the event in 1977, 1987, and 1997.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:...

, 2009

FIL World Luge Championships 2009

The FIL World Luge Championships 2009 ran on 1–8 February 2009 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the second time after having hosted the event in 1983...

; Mixed team: 1995, 2007), and four bronzes (Mixed team: 1996

FIL World Luge Championships 1996

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 1997

FIL World Luge Championships 1997

The FIL World Luge Championships 1997 took place in Igls, Austria for the third time after previously hosting the event in 1977 and 1987.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

, 2004

FIL World Luge Championships 2004

The FIL World Luge Championships 2004 took place February 13-15, 2004 at the Spiral track in Nagano, Japan. This marked the first time the event took place in Asia.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:...

, 2005).

At the FIL European Luge Championships, Zöggeler has earned eleven medals. This includes three golds (Men's singles: 2004

FIL European Luge Championships 2004

The FIL European Luge Championships 2004 took place in Oberhof, Germany for the third time having hosted the event previously in 1979 and 1998. The number of teams per nation in the mixed team event is reduced from two to one starting at these championships....

, 2008

FIL European Luge Championships 2008

The FIL European Luge Championships 2008 took place January 7-13, 2008 at the Cesana Pariol track in Cesana, Italy. The relay competition took the place of the team event that had been held at every European championship since 1988...

, Mixed team: 1994

FIL European Luge Championships 1994

The FIL European Luge Championships 1994 took place in Königssee, Germany for a record sixth time after hosting the event previously in 1967, 1972, 1973, 1977, and 1988.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:...

), three silvers (Men's singles: 2006

FIL European Luge Championships 2006

The FIL European Luge Championships 2006 took place in Winterberg, Germany for the fourth time having hosted the event previously in 1982, 1992, and 2000.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:...

, Mixed team: 2004, 2006), and five bronzes (Men's singles: 1994, 2000

FIL European Luge Championships 2000

The FIL European Luge Championships 2000 took place in Winterberg, Germany for the third time having hosted the event previously in 1982 and 1992. The team event format was reduced to one run each in men's doubles, men's singles, and women's singles for the total time.-Men's singles:-Women's...

, 2002

FIL European Luge Championships 2002

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

; Mixed team: 2000, 2008).

He won the overall Luge World Cup in men's singles ten times (1997-8, 1999–2000, 2000-1, 2003-4, 2005-6, 2006-7

2006-07 Luge World Cup

The 2007 Luge World Cup is a multi race tournament over a season for luge. The season started on 18 November 2006 and ended on 18 February 2007. The World Cup is organised by the FIL.- Calendar :-Men's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's singles:-Team Relay:...

, 2007-8

2007-08 Luge World Cup

The 2007-08 Luge World Cup is a multi race tournament over a season for luge. The season started on 16 November 2007 and ended on 17 February 2008. The World Cup is organised by the FIL.- Calendar :-Men's singles:-Men's doubles:-Women's singles:...

, 2008-9, 2009-10

2009–10 Luge World Cup

The 2009–10 Luge World Cup was a multi race tournament over a season for luge. The season started 17 November 2009 in Calgary, Canada and ended 31 January 2010 in Cesana, Italy. The World Cup was organised by the FIL and sponsored by Viessmann...

 and 2010-11

2010–11 Luge World Cup

The 2010–11 Luge World Cup was a multi race tournament over a season for luge. The season started on 27 November 2010 in Igls, Austria and ended on 20 February 2011 in Sigulda, Latvia...

). This is an other record together with Markus Prock.

Zöggeler's 54 individual wins in the World Cup , he is first of all time, beating the previous record of 33 wins by both German Georg Hackl

Georg Hackl

Georg Hackl is a German former luger who was three time Olympic and World Champion. He is known affectionately as Hackl-Schorsch or as the Speeding Weißwurst a reference to what he looks like in his white bodysuit coming down the luge at fast speeds.Hackl was born in Berchtesgaden, Bavaria.He won...

 and Austria

Austria

Austria , officially the Republic of Austria , is a landlocked country of roughly 8.4 million people in Central Europe. It is bordered by the Czech Republic and Germany to the north, Slovakia and Hungary to the east, Slovenia and Italy to the south, and Switzerland and Liechtenstein to the...

n Markus Prock

Markus Prock

Markus Prock is an Austrian luger who competed between 1983 and 2002. Born in Innsbruck, Prock competed in six Winter Olympics winning three medals in the men's singles event with two silvers and one bronze .At the FIL World Luge Championships, Prock won 13 medals, including five gold Markus...

.

Zöggeler lives in the town of Lana, in South Tyrol

South Tyrol

South Tyrol , also known by its Italian name Alto Adige, is an autonomous province in northern Italy. It is one of the two autonomous provinces that make up the autonomous region of Trentino-Alto Adige/Südtirol. The province has an area of and a total population of more than 500,000 inhabitants...

. He has two children, Nina and Thomas, and married their mother on May 12, 2007. During times when he is not training, Zöggeler enjoys swimming, field hockey, and collecting and watching television dramas. His favorite is said to be Monkey Please, Sophocles!, an Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan

Azerbaijan , officially the Republic of Azerbaijan is the largest country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia. Located at the crossroads of Western Asia and Eastern Europe, it is bounded by the Caspian Sea to the east, Russia to the north, Georgia to the northwest, Armenia to the west, and Iran to...

i sitcom.

For the 2010 Winter Olympics

2010 Winter Olympics

The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...

, Zöggeler was offered to carry the flag for Italy

Italy at the 2010 Winter Olympics

Italy participated at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada.-Medalists:- Alpine skiing:*Federica Brignone*Denise Karbon*Christian Deville*Nicole Gius*Elena Fanchini*Peter Fill*Werner Heel*Christof Innerhofer...

 at the opening ceremonies, but he declined because of the first two runs taking place at the Whistler Sliding Centre

Whistler Sliding Centre

The Whistler Sliding Centre is a Canadian bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in Whistler, British Columbia, that is north of Vancouver. The centre is part of the Whistler Blackcomb resort, which comprises two ski mountains separated by Fitzsimmons Creek...

 the following evening. The flagbearer instead went to cross-country skier

Cross-country skiing

Cross-country skiing is a winter sport in which participants propel themselves across snow-covered terrain using skis and poles...

 Giorgio Di Centa

Giorgio Di Centa

Giorgio Di Centa is an Italian cross country skier who won two gold medals at the 2006 Winter Olympics, including the individual 50 km freestyle race...

.