Another Olympic relay, another gold for Germany. The US finishes 5th in luge’s finale at 2026 Games
Advertisement
Read this article for free:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
We need your support!
Local journalism needs your support!
As we navigate through unprecedented times, our journalists are working harder than ever to bring you the latest local updates to keep you safe and informed.
Now, more than ever, we need your support.
Starting at $15.99 plus taxes every four weeks you can access your Brandon Sun online and full access to all content as it appears on our website.
Subscribe Nowor call circulation directly at (204) 727-0527.
Your pledge helps to ensure we provide the news that matters most to your community!
To continue reading, please subscribe:
Add Brandon Sun access to your Free Press subscription for only an additional
$1 for the first 4 weeks*
*Your next subscription payment will increase by $1.00 and you will be charged $20.00 plus GST for four weeks. After four weeks, your payment will increase to $24.00 plus GST every four weeks.
Read unlimited articles for free today:
or
Already have an account? Log in here »
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Germany, Austria, Italy. They were the three best luge nations at the Milan Cortina Olympics, and very fittingly, they were the three best teams in the team relay on Thursday night.
Germany is now 4-for-4 in the team event in the Olympic program, winning yet another gold medal to end this year’s luge slate at the Cortina track.
The team of women’s singles gold medalist Julia Taubitz, men’s singles gold medalist Max Langenhan, women’s doubles silver medalists Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina, and men’s doubles bronze medalists Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt took the gold in 3 minutes, 41.672 seconds.
Wendl and Arlt are now seven-time Olympic gold medalists — three in doubles, four in relays.
Austria was second in 3:42.214 and host Italy was third in 3:42.521. Latvia was fourth and the U.S. — bronze medalist Ashley Farquharson, Jonny Gustafson, Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa in men’s doubles and Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby in women’s singles — was fifth.
Ukraine was sixth, and its six sliders all took a knee crossing the finish line and held their helmets skyward in a tribute to skeleton racer Vladyslav Heraskevych. He was disqualified from the Olympic race earlier Thursday over his insistence to wear a helmet honoring some who have died in his country since Russia invaded in 2022.
The team event consists of one run for all four sleds, and teams must slap a pad that hangs from the top of the track as they cross the finish line to either activate the starting gate for the next sled or stop the clock at the end.
It made Taubitz and Langenhan the only double-gold winners in luge at this year’s Olympics, where Germany — again — was the overall best, with three golds and five medals overall. Italy won four medals (two gold, two bronze), as did Austria (three silver, one bronze).
Latvia won a silver, and the U.S. medal was Farquharson’s bronze.
There are two races left in the World Cup season — Feb. 28 and March 1 in St. Moritz, Switzerland, and then March 7-8 in Altenberg, Germany. It’s unclear how many teams will be taking part in those races, though there are some World Cup overall titles yet to be claimed. Most U.S. sleds are likely to head home for the remainder of the season, though that may change.
___
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics