USA Luge’s Summer Britcher slides in the final FIL Luge World Cup of the season in Altenburg, Germany, on Saturday. (Provided photo — FIL / Michael Kristen)

ALTENBURG, Germany–The World Cup finale for the 2025-2026 season was held this past weekend to determine the winners of the crystal globes.

Four-time Olympian Summer Britcher was the only U.S. athlete to compete as she had a chance of earning a top-three finish in the overall World Cup standings. Britcher, of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, just missed the podium, placing fourth with 482 points.

In Saturday’s race, she had a slow start on the first run but found speed in the second heat. She finished the race in eighth place with a time of 1 minute, 44.772 seconds.

It was a fight to the gold medal between Germany’s Merle Fraebel and Julia Taubitz, with Fraebel winning the race in 1:43.790 and Taubitz in second in 1:43.927. Latvia’s Kendija Aparjode was third in 1:43.933.

Just four points separated the overall top two women. Taubitz won the overall World Cup with 634 points. Fraebel was second with 630, and Austria’s Lisa Schulte was third with 558 points.

Milano-Cortina bronze medalist Ashley Farquharson of Park City, Utah, was 12th overall with 285 points, three-time Olympian Emily Fischnaller of Lake Placid was 26th with 123 points and Emma Erickson of Park City, Utah, finished 36th with 62 points.

The overall winners of the men’s and women’s doubles, men’s singles and team relay were also determined this weekend.

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Men’s singles overall

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Two-time Olympian Jonny Gustafson of Massena placed 15th overall with 208 points. Olympian Matt Greiner of Park City, Utah, was 25th with 120 points, Tucker West of Lake Placid was 32nd with 76 and Hunter Harris of East Fairfield, Vermont, was 35th with 60.

Felix Loch of Germany won his eighth career World Cup with 801 points after taking home five gold medals this season. Austria’s Jonas Mueller was second with 685 points, and Max Langenhan third with 605.

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Women’s doubles overall

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Olympians Chevonne Forgan of Chelmsford, Massachusetts, and Sophia Kirkby of Ray Brook finished the season in ninth place with 350 points. Teammates Maya Chan of Chicago and Sophia Gordon of Sussex, Wisconsin, were 11th with 279.

Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp defended their title, placing first on the season with 795 points. In second was Germany’s Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina with 653, with teammates Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal third with 524.

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Men’s doubles overall

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Olympians Marcus Mueller of Brookfield, Wisconsin, and Ansel Haugsjaa of Framingham, Massachusetts, led the U.S. with a 12th-place finish with 281 points. Two-time Olympians Zack DiGregorio of Medway, Massachusetts, and Sean Hollander of Lake Placid were 13th with 273 points. Dana Kellogg of Chesterfield, Massachusetts, and Frank Ike of Lititz, Pennsylvania, were 20th with 106 points.

The decision for the overall winner was made last weekend in St. Moritz, where Germany’s Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt secured the title and won the crystal globe with 636 points. With a total of 60 World Cup victories – they lead the all-time list of winners – and, with seven overall World Cup victories, have now overtaken Toni Eggert/Sascha Benecken and Patric Leitner/Alexander Resch in the rankings.

Austria’s Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl are second with 605, and teammates Juri Gatt and Riccardo Schoepf third with 599.

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Team relay overall

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The United States earned 260 points, placing seventh overall after only competing in four of the six races this season.

Austria was first with 540 points, Latvia second with 410, and Germany third with 355.