News Release
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January 3, 2006
BOISE STATE UNIVERSITY FACULTY MEMBER QUALIFIES FOR HIS SECOND WINTER
OLYMPICS AT AGE 52
In a hazardous sport dominated by athletes in their 20s, 52-year-old Werner
Hoeger quickly distinguishes himself from the competition. A professor in
the Boise State University Department of Kinesiology, Hoeger will represent
his home country of Venezuela in the luge competition at the 2006 Winter
Olympics in Torino, Italy.
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To ensure his place in the 2006 Games, Hoeger
successfully completed four qualifying runs, each at or under the Olympic
time mark. Currently ranked 51st in the world among male luge racers, he
will take part in the men�s singles luge competition Feb.11-12 at the Cesana
Pariol facility. In the two-day event, Hoeger will pilot his sled through
four runs down a course that drops 274 feet, curves 19 times and sent eight
athletes to the hospital in its inaugural week last February. At the close
of competition, Hoeger�s four times will be added to determine his final
score and rank. He made his first Olympic appearance at the 2002 Games in
Salt Lake City, finishing in 40th place.
Hoeger easily admits to being the oldest male luge racer in Olympic
competition. �Just because I am getting older doesn�t mean that I have to
accept a sedentary lifestyle. One has to have goals in life to stay
motivated and keep moving ahead,� said Hoeger. At nearly 90 miles per hour
down an icy trough, he is doing just that.
Hoeger, who earned his Ph.D. in exercise physiology at the age of 24, has
taught at Boise State since 1986. In addition to his undergraduate and
graduate courses in exercise physiology, athletic conditioning procedures
and fitness-related topics, he is well known for his nine textbooks (a total
of 36 editions have been published). One of the three most widely read
fitness and wellness college authors in the United States, Hoeger has
received grants to conduct research in the areas of body composition
changes, water aerobics, strength training, muscular flexibility and the
assessment of physical fitness.
Outside of the classroom, Hoeger began his athletic life not as a winter
athlete, but as one of the most decorated gymnasts in Venezuela�s history.
As the national all-around champion from 1970 through 1975, he clinched 34
individual event titles, an achievement that earned him a scholarship to
Brigham Young University. His prowess was more than enough to have qualified
him for the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games; however, the Venezuelan squad
failed to qualify as a team.
Hoeger�s Olympic vision went unrealized until he saw Iginia Boccalandro,
Venezuela�s first Winter Olympian, compete in 1998. The following summer,
Hoeger and his children, Chris, Jonathan and Julianne, attended a street
luge clinic conducted by former Olympian Jon Owen. Months later, at Owen�s
suggestion, Hoeger and Chris traveled to Calgary for a trial run arranged by
the International Luge Federation (FIL), an attempt that left Hoeger with a
concussion and a broken ankle. Despite his injuries, he was hooked and later
qualified for the 2002 Games along with Chris. Not only were they the first
father and son duo to compete together in the same Olympic event, they were
also the oldest and youngest male luge competitors in attendance.
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Contact: Werner Hoeger, Department of Kinesiology, (208) 426-3506,
whoeger@boisestate.edu
Media Contact: Kathleen Craven, University Communications, (208)
426-3275, kcraven@boisestate.edu
Boise State University is the largest institution of higher education in
Idaho with about 18,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff. More than 190
undergraduate, graduate, doctoral and technical degrees are offered within
eight colleges. A metropolitan university located in the capital city, Boise
State is committed to life-enhancing research, teaching excellence and
public service.
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Last reviewed on Wednesday, January 03, 2007