He competed for Austria in the 2015–16 Luge World Cup in the men's singles and finished tenth in the points standings.

[2] In men's luge at the 2018 Winter Olympics he became a surprise champion after the favorite, Felix Loch, made a mistake in the last run and dropped out of the medals.

Before the Olympic win, Gleirscher did not have a single World Cup podium appearance.

[3] David Gleirscher's father, Gerhard, is a retired luger who won three world championship medals, including both gold in the team event and a bronze in the men's single event in 1997.

[4] His younger brother Nico Gleirscher is also a luger competing for Austria.