Helmut Ruetz

Helmut Ruetz (born 1972 ) is a former Austrian natural track luge. With his brother Andrew, he formed the most successful doubles pair of 1990s. They were once world champion, three times European Champion and won a total of 15 race wins four times the overall World Cup. In addition, they were washed three times Austrian champion.

Career

Helmut Ruetz reached at the European Junior Championships in 1990 and 1991 respectively to fourth place in the doubles with his brother Andi and 14th place in the single-seater. In 1992, the brothers began participating in a World Cup and were sixth in doubles.

In 1992/1993 inaugural natural track luge World Cup Helmut Ruetz and his brother Andrew counted from the start a world leader. They could equal win the first World Cup race on 13 December 1992, Rautavaara and reached with a further two podium finishes in the season 1992/ 1993, third place in the overall standings. In winter 1993/1994, they remained without victory, but reached a second and a third place again in third place in the overall standings, equal on points with the Italians Roland Niedermair and Hubertsburg. In the 1994 World Cup in Gsies they were fifth in doubles.

In the season 1994/1995 Helmut and Andi Ruetz was the first chance to decide the double seater overall World Cup with two victories in Kreuth and Stein an der Enns and two second places. Very successful they were also at the European Championships in 1995 in Kandalakscha, where they won their first European title. In single-seater Helmut Ruetz was ranked 15th Moreover, they were in 1995 for the first time Austrian national champion in doubles. This title they won in 1997 and 1999 two more times.

In the winter of 1995/1996 Ruetz brothers were victorious in five of six World Cup races, so they could repeat their World Cup victory by a clear margin. At the World Championships in 1996 in Oberperfuss However, they were expelled from their countrymen Reinhard Beer and Herbert Kögl in second place. In single-seater Helmut Ruetz was eleventh. This season, Helmut Ruetz also reached the sixth place in the overall World Cup single-seater. In the season 1996/1997 Helmut and Andrew Ruetz won a World Cup race in shelter, were three times second and twice third parties. In the overall World Cup they reached so behind the Double Beer / Kögl, which celebrated three victories this season, the second place. At the European Championships in 1997 in Moss pass eggs they managed to successfully defend the title. Helmut Ruetz also finished in 16th place in the single-seater.

In winter 1997/1998 the duo Ruetz / Ruetz with two wins in Sölden and Oberperfuss and three other podium finishes was able to record the overall World Cup victory again. The biggest success of her career, she celebrated at the 1998 World Cup in Rautavaara, when they were world champions in the doubles against the Italian Manfred graves and Hubertsburg and the Austrians Reinhard Beer and Herbert Kögl.

In the 1998/1999 season the brothers with four wins in Sölden, Bad Goisern could Agordo and Herzogenaurach decide for the fourth time overall World Cup itself. This number of overall victories could reach no other doubles pair today. They were also at the European Championships 1999 in Szczyrk for the third consecutive time European champion, which until then no doubles was succeeded yet. Only from 2004 to 2008 won the Russians Pavel and Ivan Lazarev Porschnew also three times the European Championship.

After these successes Andi Ruetz ended his athletic career to devote himself to his professional activities. Helmut Ruetz also retired from professional sports.

Sporting successes

( Doubles together with Andi Ruetz )

World Championships

  • Bad Goisern 1992: 6 two-seater
  • Gsies 1994: 5 doubles
  • Oberperfuss 1996: 2 double seater, 11 seater
  • Rautavaara 1998: 1 double seater, 13 seater

European Championships

  • Kandalakscha 1995: 1 double seater, 15 seater
  • Moos in Passeier 1997: 1 double seater, 16 seater
  • Szczyrk 1999: 1 double seater

European Junior Championships

  • Železniki 1990: 4 two-seaters, 14 seaters
  • Kandalakscha 1991: 4 doubles, 14 seater

World Cup

  • 4x overall World Cup victory in the doubles in the seasons 1994/1995, 1995/1996, 1997/1998 and 1998/1999
  • 1x 2nd place overall in doubles in the 1996/1997 season
  • 2x 3rd place overall in doubles in the seasons 1992/1993 and 1993/1994
  • 32 podium finishes in World Cup races, including 15 victories:

Austrian Championships

  • Austrian Champion in doubles in 1995, 1997 and 1999
Medal FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships 1996 FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships 1998 FIL European Luge Natural Track Championships 1995 FIL European Luge Natural Track Championships 1997 FIL European Luge Natural Track Championships 1999 FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships 1992 FIL World Luge Natural Track Championships 1994 Kandalaksha Obdach Finland Italy Damiano Lugon Corrado Hérin Armin Mair David Mair (natural track luger and skeleton racer) Wolfgang Schopf Andreas Schopf Patrick Pigneter Florian Clara Andrzej Laszczak Damian Waniczek Christian Schatz
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