She won the gold medal in the women's singles event at the 1955 FIL World Luge Championships in Oslo, Norway.
Kienzl was the first World champion in luge in this event.
Kienzl also won three medals in the women's singles event at the European luge championships with one gold (1951) and two silvers (1954, 1955).
Karla Kienzl's husband Fritz Kienzl was European champion in Luge.
Karla Kienzl died in Reutte Tirol Austria on 9/2/2018 at the age of 96.