Final answer:
American Erin Hamlin ended a 16-year German reign by winning the World Championships in the winter sport of luge in 2009.
Step-by-step explanation:
In 2009, American Erin Hamlin achieved a historic victory in the winter sport of luge, by winning the World Championships. This marked the end of a 16-year dominance by German athletes in the sport. The luge is a high-speed, gravity-powered sport where athletes slide down an icy track on a small sled, lying on their back, feet first. Erin Hamlin's win was significant not only for her personal career but also for American luge, as it showcased the potential to compete at the highest levels traditionally dominated by Europeans.
The subject of this question is Luge, a winter sport in which competitors slide down a track on a sled. Erin Hamlin, an American athlete, broke a 16-year German reign in the sport of luge in 2009. Luge involves sliding down a track feet first on the athlete's back, which is the position Erin Hamlin used to win the competition.