Between discipline, teamwork and boundless trust – the story of two young athletes and their four-legged partners.

Hannes (14) and Luki (12) Junge have already achieved impressive success at a young age. In the sleddog sport, they are among the best athletes in the world in their age groups. But for the two brothers, it’s not just about medals. Their mission is to be perfect team partners for their dogs – and to push the limits together with them again and again. Their motto: put the dog first and the sport second.

An early start

Hannes and Luki were fascinated by the sport from an early age. Their mother, a professional dog trainer and mental coach, often took them to races. There, their enthusiasm and interest in the sport grew with each event, until they finally started competing themselves: Hannes at nine years old, Luki at seven. Since then, there has been no turning back for the brothers. Sport, and especially sport with their dogs, is their passion. ‘We love working with our dogs,’ says Hannes. “It’s not just about winning, but also about understanding what the dogs need and helping them develop. Every dog is different, which is what makes training so individual.” Luki adds: ’You can’t force the dogs to run. They have to want to run with us. If they enjoy working with us, they give it their all. Anyone who has experienced that knows how amazing that is.’

This attitude is what makes the brothers special. For Hannes and Luki, the well-being of their dogs comes first – and this dedication pays off.

A typical training day

Structure and discipline A glance at the brothers‘ week shows why they are so successful. Their daily routine is clearly organised, because in addition to training and competitions, school also plays a major role.not always to their liking.

“In the evening, we write a plan for the next day,” explains Hannes. ’This way, we don’t forget anything and we know exactly when there is time for homework, friends or relaxation.’

A typical training week for the boys might look like this:

• Monday: gym training with a focus on stability, strength, coordination and balance. Exercises such as precisely executed lunges, squats and core exercises form the basis for strength and explosiveness. ‘The training is extremely exhausting, but it makes us strong, both physically and mentally,’ says Luki.

• Tuesday: a day of rest to allow the muscles to recover.

• Wednesday: interval runs on the tartan track. Changing speeds, sprints and pyramid runs train speed and endurance.

• Thursday: relaxed sessions on the scooter or bike for active recovery.

• Friday: intensive training such as stair runs or scooter intervals, activation runs in the competition season. Weekend: yoga, stretching, swimming, endurance runs – and often competitions during the season.

Support from the family

Of course, the brothers are not alone. Their family is an integral part of their success. ‘Our mother has a lot of knowledge about dogs,  ’says Hannes. ‘She helps us with the training of the dogs, with training planning and mental preparation.’

Their father keeps their backs free when they are on the road a lot during the racing season and takes care of the dogs that are not active in the sport. And then there are the friendships that the two athletes have been able to form with other athletes over the years. They mean a lot to Hannes & Luki and the exchange with other athletes is very important to them.

The four-legged stars

Sleddog sports would be unthinkable without the dogs, and that’s why the two guys‘ dogs should not go unmentioned either.

• Racer: the veteran of the team. At almost nine years old, he’s no longer the youngest, but he’s still full of energy. “As soon as the harness is put on, Racer is unstoppable,” says Hannes. ’He shows us all how much fun this sport is.’

• Figo: Hannes‘ dream team partner and the one in a million dog. With him, Hannes became 2023 Vice World Champion in Canicross and 2024 World Champion in Canicross. “With Figo, everything feels easy,” enthuses Hannes. ’We understand each other perfectly, whether we’re running, riding a scooter or biking.’

• Joop: Luki’s first dog of his own. A Greyster from the Netherlands. These two are finally about to take part in their first races. Joop and Luki have a very special connection. Joop is a sensitive guy and so Luki likes to pay attention to when he trains what and how. He also talks to others a lot and thinks a lot about what his dog needs to feel good and safe on the trail.

• Peat: the youngest member of the pack. The nine-month-old puppy is destined to become Hannes‘ future partner (alongside Figo). “Peat is always in a good mood,” says Hannes with a laugh. ’He can’t wait to join the big guys.

Competitions: highlights and setbacks

As in any sport, there are ups and downs. The brothers have experienced both. In 2022, Luki became world champion in canicross in the schoolboys category, while Hannes missed out on a podium finish in the young boys category by a second.

Of course it was frustrating,’ Hannes recalls. ’But I knew I had given it my all. That’s the most important thing, so in the end it wasn’t so bad for me.‘ This attitude characterises the brothers: they don’t compare themselves to others, but work on their own performance. In 2023, Hannes finally made it onto the podium. He became vice world champion in the young boys’ canicross, and Luki, competing in this age group for the first time, took an excellent 5th place. In 2024, the big moment arrived: at the world championships in Bardonecchia, Hannes took gold with Figo, while Luki came in third with the little Racer.

It was an incredible feeling,’ says Luki. ‘All the hard work paid off. I really wanted Racer to get a medal in his last big championship. We managed to do that and it just meant a lot to me. Racer really deserved it.’

Looking ahead

Hannes and Luki are true team players – with an unrivalled sense for their dogs. They have big dreams: Both want to spend many more years on the trails together with their four-legged friends and show what is possible when man and dog form a single unit.

By: Susanna Simon

And a special dog must also be mentioned here: Lucy. She belongs to friends of the two and was Luki’s partner in canicross several times this season. Both were able to become German champions from a standing start, and who knows, maybe we will see the two of them together at the starting line next season as well.

Photo: Marco Passaniti

Photo: RacePaw-Pictures

Photo: Jeanette Grottendiek