Gold medalists Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy pose for a photo during the awarding ceremony of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb. 11 (Xinhua) -- Italy sent the home crowd into sheer ecstasy on Wednesday as the host swept both the men's and women's doubles gold medals in luge at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games.
Starting last, Andrea Voetter and Marion Oberhofer clocked a combined time of one minute 46.284 seconds to capture the women's doubles title, becoming the first Olympic champions in the event.
"It's unbelievable. Winning the gold medal at home - what could be better? We did such great work on the sled," said 30-year-old Voetter.
Oberhofer, competing in her first Olympics, said it felt "amazing" to win on home ice. "We're overwhelmed with emotion and so grateful to everyone who supported us. Racing here in Cortina is incredible," the 25-year-old added.
Germany's Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina finished second in 1:46.404, while Austria's Selina Egle and Lara Michaela Kipp took bronze in 1:46.543. China's Gulijienaiti Adikeyoumu and Zhao Jiaying placed eighth in 1:48.487.
Later in the evening, Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner powered to victory in the men's doubles with a total time of 1:45.086, edging Austria's Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl by 0.068 seconds and Germany's Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt by 0.090.
"It's crazy. I can't believe it. I've lost my voice from screaming. I'm super happy," Rieder said after the race.
China's Jubayi Saikeyi and Hou Shuo finished 15th.
The luge team relay is scheduled for Thursday. ■
Members of the team USA celebrate birthday for a player after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl of Austria compete during of the luge men's doubles run 2 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl of Austria celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Silver medalists Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl of Austria pose for a photo during the awarding ceremony of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl of Austria compete during of the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl of Austria compete during of the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl of Austria celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy compete during of the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Gold medalists Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy celebrate during the awarding ceremony of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy compete during of the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner of Italy compete during of the luge men's doubles run 2 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Jubayi Saikeyi/Hou Shuo of China celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Jubayi Saikeyi/Hou Shuo of China compete during of the luge men's doubles run 2 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Jubayi Saikeyi/Hou Shuo of China celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Jubayi Saikeyi (front)/Hou Shuo of China compete during the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Jubayi Saikeyi (front)/Hou Shuo of China compete during the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Jubayi Saikeyi (front)/Hou Shuo of China compete during the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Jubayi Saikeyi (L)/Hou Shuo of China react after the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Gold medalists Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner (C) of Italy, silver medalists Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl (L) of Austria, and bronze medalists Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany pose for a photo during the awarding ceremony of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany celebrate after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Gold medalists Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner interact with bronze medalists Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany after of the luge men's doubles match at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany compete during of the luge men's doubles run 1 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany compete during of the luge men's doubles run 2 at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Bronze medalists Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany celebrate after of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
Bronze medalists Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany pose for a photo during the awarding ceremony of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Gold medalists Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner (C) of Italy, silver medalists Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl (L) of Austria, and bronze medalists Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany take a selfie during the awarding ceremony of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Li Gang)
Gold medalists Emanuel Rieder/Simon Kainzwaldner (C) of Italy, silver medalists Thomas Steu/Wolfgang Kindl (L) of Austria, and bronze medalists Tobias Wendl/Tobias Arlt of Germany celebrate after of the luge men's doubles at the Milan-Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games in Cortina, Italy, Feb. 11, 2026. (Xinhua/Ding Xu)
