Tatyana Ivanova celebrates her win ©FIL

Russian Tatyana Ivanova successfully retained her European Luge Championship title at the International Luge Federation (FIL) World Cup in Lillehammer, Norway.  

On the Olympic track, the 2012 World Championship silver medallist took her fourth gold at the 51st FIL European Championships, which doubled as the Viessmann World Cup.

The 28-year-old finished ahead of arch-rival Julia Taubitz from Germany, who actually held the lead at halfway.

Third place went to Russia’s Victoria Demchenko. 

“I don’t know what to say. I had a few issues on the first run. I was able to focus better on my second attempt,” Ivanova said. 

Ivanova has now extended her lead in the overall Viessmann Luge World Cup standings, with 582 points after six of 12 events. 

Taubitz is in second (550), with Demchenko third (392).

In the men's doubles, Aleksandr Denisev and Vladislav Antonov have become the first Russians to win a European Championship gold medal in the discipline. 

The duo finished ahead of the Austrian pairing of Thomas Steu/Lorenz Koller in second. 

Third place went to another Russian pairing - Vladislav Yuzhakov/Iurii Prokhorov. 

World champions Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken finished eighth in Liellehammer, but retain their lead in the overall World Cup standings, ahead of Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt (517) and Steu/Koller (486).

The Luge World Cup competition now moves to Sigulda, Latvia, next weekend.