Like a conqueror, Francesco Friedrich drove standing in his Bob towards the goal, then fell his arms Thorsten Margis in his arms. The 31-year-old has secured his third Olympic gold in the historical German triple success. The Sachse and Margis referred Johannes Lochner / Florian Bauer and Christoph Ohper / Matthias Sommer on the seats on Tuesday. Since the beginning of the Olympic bobwear struggles, a nation had never occupied the first three places. “They have been crassious games until now,” cheered Friedrich, “and it was a horny performance”.
Change to the Kalicki Bob
With the sleigh of Kim Kalicki on the way: Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis. AFP Via Getty Images
For the coup, as the second German after André Lange to become a second time in succession Olympic champion in the two-bob, Friedrich even changed at the sleigh of European champion Kim Kalicki at short notice. The sledge was built as well as Friedrich’s first choice of the Berlin Institute for Research and Development of Sports Eggs (FES), but had a faster setup for the current conditions on the Olympic Bahn. The change to the women’s Bob paid out, in the first and third passage, Friedrich succeeded in a railway record. At the end, the dominator was 0.49 seconds in front of Lochner.
“I’m like Schumi”
As once his role model Michael Schumacher dominates the 31-year-old his sport almost charged. From the seven Formula 1 World Champion, Friedrich has looked a lot for his own work. “At Schumi, I saw the same mentality as myself. He always wanted to win, has made the optimal out of every team member,” Friedrich said. “I’m like Schumi. If you do not have this mentality, you are not a winner, then you’re just fine.”
For the necessary PS in the ice channel, as always, Margis cared for. The former ten fighter from Halle / Saale has enormous share in the success, as the star record of 5.93 seconds in the third run once again proved. “Not only franz is experienced, even the team. With Thorsten Margis it is the most experienced combination in the World Cup circus,” said Chef Trainer René Spies. That Lochner had at halftime only a residue of 0.15 seconds on the Duo Friedrich / Margis, caused additional motivation – because defeats start for them from third place.
follows on sunday the victory in the foursome?
At the weekend, Friedrich wants to go into the history of Bobsport with the second coup. Never before has it been a pilot so far to win both competitions with consecutive winter games. After the double of Pyeongchang and the first gold of Beijing, the 31-year-old lacks only the victory in the fourth. Friedrich goes as a great favorite in the races.
With twice the double gold, he would only miss a medal too long. This is four times gold and once silver the most successful Olympic Bobpilot. A brand that Friedrich could crack 2026 in Cortina d’Ampezzo. With then 34 years he would not be too old for a long time.
The result at a glance
Medal mirror