Johannes Ludwig wins gold ahead of Wolfgang Kindl and Dominik Fischnaller

Beijing 2022, Men's singles medals

Yanqing (FIL) Johannes Ludwig is the Olympic Champion in the men's singles. The 35-year-old German luged the fastest time in three of the four runs at the National Sliding Center in Yanqing.

"Unbelievable," was Ludwig's first comment. In the end, he was 0.160 seconds ahead of Wolfgang Kindl (Austria). The bronze medal went to Italy's Dominik Fischnaller (0.951 seconds back). Fourth place went to Felix Loch (Germany). The three-time Olympic Champion was already 1.143 seconds behind.

"Round three and four are almost like a new race," Ludwig had said after taking the lead at half-time. The 1.87-metre athlete then started the second day just like the first - with a track record. He improved the best time in the 1583-metre-long ice track to 57.043 seconds. That is another two hundreds of a second faster. In addition, he set the start record in 2.455 seconds.

Johannes Ludwig, küsst Podium Beijing 2022

For the winner of the overall World Cup, the Olympic victory is his greatest success, but not his most important. He celebrated that four years ago at the Games in Pyeongchang, when he won bronze by two thousandths of a second ahead of Dominik Fischnaller. "This medal has contributed to the fact that I have once again developed significantly in my sport." National coach Norbert Loch praised the Olympic Champion: "It has always distinguished Lüdi that he never gives up. Since 2018, things have always gone uphill with him, also because he now benefits from his great experience."

At the award ceremony, Ludwig first sank to his knees and kissed the podium before accepting the gold medal from Octavian Morariu, the IOC member from Romania and FIL President Einars Fogelis (Latvia). "The moment it feels good," he said afterwards, "the pressure is not coming from the front right now like in luge, but from the neck because of the medal."

Jubel Johannes Ludwig Beijing 2022

A mix of thoughts of the past and present occupied the second-placed Kindl: " I was so close to quitting. That it has worked out now is madness." Fischnaller also thought of the competition four years ago. "The fourth place in Pyeongchang is forgotten now," said the 28-year-old South Tyrolean, "now I can actually believe it because I can feel the medal."

Through the key section of the course, the crossing between turns 13 and 14, Ludwig had found a great driving line. Not so his predecessor, 2018 Olympic Champion David Gleirscher. The Austrian got too close to the rail and tipped over. 15th place, 4.437 seconds behind. Kristers Aparjods also had problems on this run and had to stabilise with his feet on the ice. Therefore, the Latvian dropped back from fourth to fifth place.