Fuahea Semi

Bruno Banani ( born December 4, 1987 in Angaha, 'Eua as Fuahea Semi) is a Tongan luger, which alone forms the national team, which was founded in 2009 Luge Association of the Kingdom of Tonga.

Career

In November 2008, the winter sports lovers sister of King George Tupou V. and acquaintances of Monaco's Prince Albert II and bobsleigh pilot, Princess Salote Mafileo Pilolevu Tuita invited, one at a casting at the Royal Palace in Nuku'alofa. The objective of the week-long training camp was to find a suitable candidate for participation in the Olympic Winter Games 2010. After several tests in which the applicant had to prove in addition to courage and strength, athleticism and skill, and the final " Summer Slide " the 21 -year-old computer science student Fuahea Semi were determined as the winner and the 18- year-old soldier Taniela tufuga as runner-up of the casting.

The Samoa Observer had reported, as well as Radio Australia in December 2008, referring to the online magazine Matangi Tonga Fuahea Semi and Taniela tufuga as Casting winner; German language media and the International Luge Federation (FIL ) reported since November 2009, however, Bruno Banani, the son of a teacher.

End of January 2012 Der Spiegel published a report stating that the previously known as Bruno Banani luger was born in 1987 under the name Fuahea semi son of a simple Tongan family. In fact, the advertising agency makai Europe was involved in the casting end of 2008. For better marketing semis beat the manager of the agency, Mathias Ihle, a change of name before, which was completed after six months of negotiations with the issuance of a new passport and a change in the birth certificate. The Chemnitz fashion company Bruno Banani took the luge, the " accident" was the name of the company, in fact under contract and announced in January 2012 after the discovery of history, also known to continue to support course Bruno Banani Fuahea Semi.

After chaired by the former luger Isabel Barschinski Casting the Bobsleigh and Luge Federation took over for Germany (BSD ) from the 2010/11 season a partnership for Banani. From now on, coached and traveled both in the summer months and during the current winter season in the circles of the German national team.

Banani made ​​his international debut at the start of the 2009/10 season in Calgary Luge World Cup and was 56th except the last race in Cesana Pariol he started in seven of the eight races of the season. In Koenigssee he did not reach the goal, in the other six races he won a World Cup point, although he could not qualify for the actual World Cup races over the nations Cup. Best result of the season was the 50th place respectively in Lillehammer and Winterberg. With six points, he finished 54th in the overall World Cup standings. The intended participation in the Olympic Games missed Banani just because he fell in the deciding race and had to be hospitalized with a concussion.

Also in the season 2010/11 he took from the beginning part of the World Cup. With 42 seats in Igls and Winterberg he improved his best rankings, but could still not qualify for the final World Cup race itself. In the FIL World Luge Championships 2011 in Cesana Banani came in 36th place. In the overall standings he was 47th After the season, he participated in the fun event Wok World Championship 2011 part. In addition, he was a guest star on TV.

The 2011/12 season started brilliantly for the luger: December 15, 2011, he succeeded in Calgary for the first time, to qualify for a World Cup race in which he finished in 26th place. As part of the as a "race - to -race" discharged first American - Pacific champion chips Bruno Banani won in Canada for his homeland of Tonga the bronze medal. In the Luge World Cup 2012 in Altenberg, he was 36th at the end of season three World Cup participations ( Calgary, St. Moritz, Sigulda ) and a 34th place in the overall standings were to book.

The 2012/13 season was characterized by a long-term Olympic preparation. Bruno Banani since June already trained with parts of the German national team at the base in Upper Wiesenthal. As a highlight of the winter, the World Cup on the Olympic track of 2010 in Whistler, BC be referred. With an end time of 49,026 sec he missed the part in the second scoring run razor thin to 0.061 sec and thus was ranked 28th Banani participated in eight of nine races and finished the season with two World Cup qualifications ( Königsee, Oberhof ) and a 39 Appreciation Course

On 24 December 2013, the International Luge Federation (FIL ) announced that Banani have qualified for the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, which was held in Park City managed. After four runs on 8 and 9 February Banani was on the 32nd 6.150 seconds behind the Olympic champion Felix Loch and therefore outperformed seven starter behind.

Results

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