The post-Beijing Olympic cycle brought some noticeable shifts to the luge landscape. Perhaps the most significant has been the introduction of mixed-team competitions in the FIL World Cup and world championships. These events, which debuted during the 2024–25 season, allow men and women athletes to combine results in singles and doubles races. Perhaps even more radical, mixed-nationality teams have been permitted when countries cannot field a complete team, adding an unpredictable twist to the competition.

Another change has been the removal of the Sprint World Cup from the international calendar, a move that has refocused the season around standard race formats and the growing mixed-team discipline.

No major equipment overhauls have been introduced, but athletes and teams continue to refine sled setup, runner polishing, and start-technique details to squeeze out precious thousandths of a second.

Several familiar faces from the Beijing podium are expected to make another Olympic run in Milan Cortina. For Team USA, Emily Sweeney, Ashley Farquharson, and Summer Britcher all have been named to the national squad for the 2025–26 season. All three bring extensive Olympic and World Cup experience, and their continued presence signals that the United States will have a seasoned core in women’s singles.

Germany, as always, is expected to return with a deep and roster. Beijing silver medalist Anna Berreiter since has captured both world and European titles, cementing her status as a gold-medal favorite in 2026. Austria’s Wolfgang Kindl, who claimed men’s singles silver in Beijing, has remained a consistent force in international competition, becoming the first sliding athlete to win in the men's singles and doubles races at a single World Cup, and still is considered among the sport’s most technically gifted athletes.

In the three seasons since Beijing, a new generation of lugers has emerged, reshaping the competitive picture. Germany’s Anna Berreiter has been the most prominent, evolving from an Olympic silver medalist into a dominant presence on the circuit. Her consistency on a variety of tracks and her precision in high-pressure moments have made her one of the most feared competitors in the sport.

Italy’s Marion Oberhofer has been another revelation, particularly in doubles. Alongside partner Andrea Votter, she won the overall doubles World Cup title in 2022–23 and has been a fixture on the podium at both the European and world championships. The rise of these athletes, along with strong performances from up-and-coming mixed-team specialists, suggests a changing of the guard may be underway as Milan Cortina approaches.

One of the most notable absences in 2026 will be an entire nation’s worth of competitors. Russian athletes, who competed under the ROC designation in Beijing, will not be present in Milan Cortina in any capacity. In June 2025, the FIL Congress voted to uphold a ban preventing Russian sliders from competing, even under a neutral flag. This decision effectively sidelines several athletes who have been regular contenders in Olympic and World Cup races, creating opportunities for other nations to move up the medal standings.

The German superstars Natalie Geisenberger and Johannes Ludwig, both announced their retirements following the Beijing Olympic Games, paving the way for Germany's deep roster of talent. 

Germany’s dominance has continued largely uninterrupted. Julia Taubitz has been a force in women’s singles, Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt remain the benchmark in men’s doubles, and Max Langenhan has risen to the top tier in men’s singles. The German program’s ability to consistently produce medal contenders across multiple events is unmatched in the sport’s modern era.

Italy, however, has become a true power in doubles, with Oberhofer and Votter spearheading a resurgence that has brought the nation regular podium finishes. Austria continues to field one of the deepest singles rosters in the world, with Wolfgang Kindl and Madeleine Egle anchoring their efforts. Latvia also has made its mark, particularly in doubles and team relay events, where technical precision and quick starts have helped them challenge the traditional hierarchy.

The Milan Cortina Games promise a fascinating blend of tradition and change. One storyline will be the continuing question of whether mixed-team formats, so successful within the World Cup, will earn a permanent place on the Olympic program. Another will be the ripple effects of Russia’s absence, which not only removes a long-time contender but also reshapes the competitive field across all events.

The rise of Anna Berreiter and Marion Oberhofer gives the Games new star power, while the veterans — Wendl and Arlt, Kindl, Taubitz — seek to extend their dominance on a brand-new track in Cortina. 

That venue itself will be a major talking point: unfamiliar to most of the field, it will reward adaptability and nerve.