Three track records
Friedrich wins eighth world title in two-man bobsleigh
Francesco Friedrich (front l) and Alexander Schüller (back l) high five with fans after their victory. photo
© Robert Michael/dpa
Three track records in four runs. Francesco Friedrich is back to his old strength and further increased his World Championship title collection with gold in the two-man bobsleigh.
With a demonstration of his strength Francesco Friedrich won his eighth world title in the two-man bobsleigh.
The 33-year-old from Pirna, who was without a win in the small sled for almost 15 months, conjured up three track records on the ice of the Winterberg track. With pusher Alexander Schüller, the two-time double Olympic champion from BSC Sachsen Oberbärenburg relegated the European champions Adam and Issam Ammour (BRC Thuringia/Eintracht Frankfurt) to second place after four runs with a lead of 0.34 seconds. Defending champion Johannes Lochner from Berchtesgaden, who had dominated the season in the small sled in Altenberg with his Potsdam pusher Georg Fleischhauer until his serious fall in four-man bobsleigh training, took bronze, 0.47 seconds behind. The last time there was a German triple victory was in Altenberg in 2021.
“It’s been difficult, the whole season up to this point, to pull it off. It just doesn’t get any easier. The competition doesn’t sleep and if you don’t stick with it, aren’t meticulous and ambitious, then it’s not enough,” said Friedrich on ARD. The record world champion now has 15 World Championship victories in his collection of titles, including five gold medals in the four-man bobsleigh and two team titles.
Friedrich, who did not win a World Cup victory in the small sled this winter despite constant podium finishes, immediately improved his own track record to 54.67 seconds with start number one and then increased it to 54.54 and 54.39 seconds. He also impressed at the start with pusher Schüller and, as in the best of times, laid the foundation on the so-called starter track in Hochsauerland with a high initial speed. Even European champion Adam Ammour, who was able to defeat Friedrich for the first time on his home track in Altenberg, couldn’t keep up.