German bobsled pilot Johannes Lochner triumphed in the two-man and four-man events at the Cortina Winter Olympics, relegating Francesco Friedrich to second place. The 35-year-old from Königssee ends his career with a perfect finale. Pusher Thorsten Margis also retires with his fifth gold medal.
At the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, Johannes Lochner crowned his career with a historic double gold in bobsled. He first won the two-man event, then triumphed in the four-man with a significant lead over Francesco Friedrich. "Unglaublich, dass so ein Plan so aufgeht – bei meiner letzten Fuhre. Ich kann das noch gar nicht glauben, and it will take forever to fully realize it," said the 35-year-old from Königssee after the race, hugging his pushers Thorsten Margis, Jörn Wenzel, and Georg Fleischhauer. "This is a dream that's been playing in my head for two years. And now it's true. This is a moment for eternity," he added emotionally.
Lochner is the seventh bobsled pilot in Olympic history to win both the two-man and four-man at the same Games. Friedrich from Pirna, competing with Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schüller, and Felix Straub, took silver and was the first to congratulate. "That was a tough fight, a hard year. And we're satisfied to go home with silver," said the 35-year-old, who may continue his career. Thorsten Margis, who won four golds with Friedrich, is also retiring: "It couldn't feel better. I'm standing here with my fifth gold, and it's time, I can stop."
Third place went to the Swiss team led by pilot Michael Vogt, who edged out the third German crew around Adam Ammour by 0.04 seconds. The German Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (BSD) secured 19 medals, including six golds. Germany overall won 26 medals. In the women's two-man, Laura Nolte with Deborah Levi won ahead of Lisa Buckwitz and Nele Schuten. Nolte, who lost the monobob by 0.04 seconds to Kaillie Humphries, postpones her retirement: "We actually wanted to stop in 2026. [...] The journey isn't over yet."
