Germany strikes gold at the Alpensia Sliding Centre ice track

PyeongChang (RWH): Germany’s luge team has really struck gold at the Alpensia Sliding Centre ice track. The quartet made up of Natalie Geisenberger, Johannes Ludwig and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt have won the team relay event at the Winter Olympic Games in PyeongChang (KOR), marking the third gold medal in total for the German Luge Association.

Only Austria's David Gleirscher – the Olympic Champion in the men’s singles event – prevented Germany from claiming a full house in the luge. At the Sochi Winter Games four years ago, the German luge team took home all four gold medals. This time around, Natalie Geisenberger and Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt claimed gold, along with the relay team.

The German quartet were followed by Canada’s team of Alex Gough, Sam Edney and Tristan Walker/Justin Snith, who took home the silver. This was Team Canada's second medal in Olympic luge history following Alex Gough’s bronze. Four years ago, Canada’s luge team ended up in a thankless fourth place three times in Sochi.

Austria’s quartet with Madeleine Egle, David Gleirscher and Peter Penz/Georg Fischler claimed bronze to secure the Alpine country's third luge medal.

Quotes

Johannes Ludwig (GER / World Champion in the team relay in 2017, Olympic bronze medallist in 2018)

“Like the World Championship gold last year, this is an incredible story. Getting the bronze was great but to win gold in the Olympic team relay is really the icing on the cake. I’m speechless.”

Georg Fischler (AUT / Olympic silver medallist in the doubles) 

“A few days ago, nobody would have thought all this possible. A finish like this is just unbelievable. We are super happy. As far as I know, Austria has never won three medals in the luge before.”