Josef Lenz
Encyclopedia
Josef "Sepp" Lenz (born 8 February 1934) is a West German
luge
r who competed in the 1960s. He won the gold medal in the men's singles event at the 1962 FIL European Luge championships
in Weissenbach
, Austria
.
Lenz competed in the men's singles event at the 1964 Winter Olympics
, but was severely injured at the luge
track in Igls and did not compete as a result.
Lenz later became a luge coach
, being involved the early career of Austria
's Markus Prock
. He later became coach of the German
national team, a position he held until 1995.
In December 1993, Lenz lost his left leg below the knee when he did not get out of the way of an American
luger while clearing off the ice at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
in Winterberg
, Germany
. Lenz returned to coach the German team at the 1994 Winter Olympics
in Lillehammer
two months later.
West Germany
West Germany is the common English, but not official, name for the Federal Republic of Germany or FRG in the period between its creation in May 1949 to German reunification on 3 October 1990....
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 who competed in the 1960s. He won the gold medal in the men's singles event at the 1962 FIL European Luge championships
FIL European Luge Championships 1962
The FIL European Luge Championships 1962 took place in Weissenbach, Austria. It marked the first time event was held under the auspices of the International Luge Federation which was formed in 1957...
in Weissenbach
Weissenbach
-Places:*municipalities in Austria:**Weißenbach am Lech, in Tyrol**Weißenbach an der Enns, in Styria**Weißenbach bei Liezen, in Styria**Gniebing-Weißenbach, in Styria**Weißenbach an der Triesting, in Lower Austria* Weißenbach, a village in northern Italy...
, 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...
.
Lenz competed in the men's singles event at the 1964 Winter Olympics
1964 Winter Olympics
The 1964 Winter Olympics, officially known as the IX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event which was celebrated in Innsbruck, Austria, from January 29 to February 9, 1964...
, but was severely injured at the 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...
track in Igls and did not compete as a result.
Lenz later became a luge coach
Coach (sport)
In sports, a coach is an individual involved in the direction, instruction and training of the operations of a sports team or of individual sportspeople.-Staff:...
, being involved the early career of 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...
's 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...
. He later became coach of the German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
national team, a position he held until 1995.
In December 1993, Lenz lost his left leg below the knee when he did not get out of the way of an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
luger while clearing off the ice at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
Winterberg bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track
The Winterberg bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track is a bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track located in Winterberg, Germany. It is the only track of its kind in the world with a turn that has corporate sponsorship with turn seven being sponsored by Veltins, a German brewery who has its headquarters...
in Winterberg
Winterberg
Winterberg is a town in the Hochsauerland district of North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany and a major winter sport resort of the Wintersport Arena Sauerland.-Geography:...
, Germany
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
. Lenz returned to coach the German team at the 1994 Winter Olympics
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...
in Lillehammer
Lillehammer
is a town and municipality in Oppland county, Norway, globally known for hosting the 1994 Winter Olympics. It is part of the traditional region of Gudbrandsdal. The administrative centre of the municipality is the town of Lillehammer. As of May 2011, the population of the town of Lillehammer was...
two months later.