by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Feb. 13 (Xinhua) -- Celebrations erupted along the track moments after the German relay team captured gold at the 2026 Milan-Cortina Olympic Winter Games.
While Germany has underlined its dominance by winning every Olympic gold medal since the event was introduced in 2014, men's doubles lugers Tobias Arlt and Tobias Wendl have now written themselves into the nation's sporting history as its most successful winter sports athletes.
Claiming their seventh Olympic gold medal, to go with one bronze, the duo moved clear of German luge legend Natalie Geisenberger, who won six Olympic titles during her career.
Across all Winter Olympic disciplines, only four Norwegian cross-country skiers and biathletes have collected more medals than the two 38-year-old German veterans.
"Many of today's competitors could be our children. Yes, we are the sports grandpas," Wendl said as the pair announced the end of their Olympic careers after 25 years of competing together.
Their partnership dates back to 2001, when a youth coach suggested they team up - a decision that sparked an unmatched career and forged a close bond between their two families.
"This was our last Olympic race," the pair said, while confirming they will continue competing until the 2028 World Championships on their home track at Konigssee in the Bavarian Alps.
Although both share a passion for golf, Arlt noted that "success in doubles requires leaving space for the other one."
Wendl added that their longevity was built on a "willingness to accept compromises and to ease tensions by finding solutions before things get too heated."
Both athletes married beneath Germany's highest mountain, the Zugspitze, and even combined their wedding celebrations.
Their remarkable careers include a total of 64 medals across all competitions, featuring 10 world championship titles and five overall World Cup victories.
"After all, we shared the smallest workspace I can think of," Arlt said with a smile, adding that they chose to end their careers "where it all started - at Konigssee."
The duo said their success was rooted in a shared passion for luge, while joking that their golfing abilities remained evenly matched.
"Changing sports left room to enjoy a competitive rivalry on a different field," they said.
Both grew up in the Alps and took up luge at an early age, initially competing in singles before forming their historic partnership.
"We couldn't have asked for a more joyful and perfect Olympic ending," Wendl said after their record-setting gold medal.
Celebrations later moved from the track to the team house, with media reports saying the "grandpas' party" lasted well into the night, as the luge champions finally closed the doors in the early morning hours. ■
