Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi Defend Olympic Title in Two-Woman Bobsleigh

The competition in the legendary ice track in Cortina d'Ampezzo ended with absolute dominance by the German representatives. Pilot Laura Nolte, who earlier in the monobob event lost the gold by just four hundredths of a second, this time kept her cool until the very end. Together with brakewoman Deborah Levi, they maintained the lead after all four runs, achieving a 0.35-second advantage over the second German crew. Third place went to USA representative Kaillie Humphries, a legend of the sport, who despite technical problems managed to win another medal for her rich collection. Nolte's success is all the more valuable because her bobsleigh had to undergo a quick rebuild by mechanics before the final day to meet the technical requirements of the track. In Livigno, fans witnessed the sporting rebirth of veterans. 40-year-old Swiss Alex Fiva won the bronze medal in ski cross, which was considered a sensation given his age and the difficult snow conditions that slowed down the course. The winners, Italians Simone Deromedis and Federico Tomasoni, used the home advantage, securing the hosts' first double victory of these Games. Meanwhile, on the curling ice, the Canadian team, led by skip Brad Jacobs, defeated Great Britain 9:6 in the final. The decisive moment turned out to be the ninth end, in which the Canadians scored three points, depriving the British of any hope for victory. Bobsleigh has been part of the Olympic program almost from the very beginning of the modern Winter Games, since 1924 in Chamonix. Over the years, the sport has undergone a tremendous technological transformation, becoming one of the most expensive and advanced winter sports, often called Formula 1 on ice. The final hours of competition, however, are not only overshadowed by successes but also by loud criticism. Franziska van Almsick, a swimming legend, publicly condemned the wave of hate on social media directed at athletes who failed to win medals. Her words correspond with the frustration of Fridtjof Petzold, a German speed skater, who after an unsuccessful start sharply criticized the national federation for unprofessional management and lack of proper support for athletes. These voices of bitterness mix with the atmosphere of anticipation for the closing ceremony, which will take place in the ancient amphitheater in Verona. „Ich glaube, da sind wir in eine Sphäre abgedriftet, die man gar nicht mehr in Worte fassen kann.” (I believe we have drifted into a sphere that can no longer even be put into words.) — Franziska van Almsick