German teenager Antonia Pietschmann claimed the first gold medal at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games, while Yang Jingru took China's first gold in short track speed skating.
GANGNEUNG, South Korea, Jan. 20 (Xinhua) -- German teenager Antonia Pietschmann claimed the first gold medal at the 2024 Gangwon Winter Youth Olympic Games after dominating the women's luge on Saturday.
The 17-year-old finished her opening run with 47.985 seconds, leading the women's singles luge event at the Alpensia Sliding Center that had also hosted the luge event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics in 2018.
Pietschmann went faster in the second run with 47.789 seconds, becoming the only athlete to cross the finish line under 48 seconds.
She claimed the gold with an overall time of one minute and 35.774 seconds, notching the 10th luge medal at the Winter Youth Olympics for Germany.
The women's luge is the first sport to begin at the Games, with 31 athletes competing. Alexandra Oberstolz of Italy secured the silver with a time of one minute and 36.326 seconds, while the bronze medal went to Marie Riedl of Austria.
"I feel incredible because I also know that I am the first medal winner of Germany, and it's a gold medal, so very nice," Pietschmann said.
"I expected to have chances, but I didn't know how good I was," she added.
Also on Saturday, China's short track youngsters took three medals.
Yang Jingru claimed China's first gold medal in the women's 1,500m in 2:33.148, followed by teammate Li Jinzi in 2:41.543, while Zhang Xinzhe clinched a silver in the men's 1,500m, marking his first international podium.
"I achieved my goal. Actually, I wanted to win the gold medal beforehand, and I am very happy that I got it," said 17-year-old Yang.
"There are still competitions to come, and I will continue to strive for good results."
Joo Jae-hee won the men's 1,500m in 2:21.906, giving the host nation their first gold medal.
With two gold medals from the first competition day, France currently top the medal table. Jonas Chollet took first place in the men's snowboard cross, while Antonin Guy won the men's biathlon 12.5km individual.
1,802 athletes aged 14 to 18 from 78 nations and regions will compete in the four cities of Gangneung, PyeongChang, Jeongseon and Hoengseong until February 1.
The Gangwon Winter Youth Olympics features seven sports, 15 disciplines and 81 events. ■
