by Oliver Trust
BERLIN, Feb. 22 (Xinhua) -- Johannes Lochner's final Olympic run ended in triumph, even if his youngest fan had to watch from afar.
One-year-old Jonas and his mother, Hannah Lochner, followed the decisive four-man bobsled run from a nearby hotel after the toddler came down with influenza. The family opted for warmth over the cold conditions at the Cortina Sliding Center, a minor compromise on a landmark day.
Jonas had already been trackside five days earlier when his father won gold in the two-man event. After Lochner's second title, in the four-man competition, his parents and friends were left to celebrate with him in the finish area.
Lochner's longtime rival, Francesco Friedrich, took silver with his crew, finishing ahead of the Swiss team led by Michael Vogt.
"I couldn't be more grateful for this happy ending, as it was my last race," Lochner said, confirming his retirement from competitive bobsled. The 35-year-old added that he plans to run bobsled taxi tours at his home track in Konigssee, in the Bavarian Alps.
Lochner said family considerations weighed heavily on his decision. He revealed he missed his son's first steps last Christmas and did not want to miss more milestones. "I want to see him grow up and help him choose his sport preferences," he said.
For years, Lochner played second fiddle to Friedrich on the Olympic stage. He committed to one final push for Milan-Cortina, determined to beat his compatriot at least once, and left with gold in both the two-man and four-man events.
Germany's sliding team capped the Games with a total of 19 medals. Friedrich matched the pilot record of Kevin Kuske, finishing his Olympic career with four golds and two silvers. Felix Straub, Matthias Sommer and Alexander Schueller completed Friedrich's four-man crew in Cortina.
Lochner's breakman, Thorsten Margis, added a milestone of his own. He claimed his fifth Olympic gold medal, after winning four with Friedrich before switching to Lochner in 2025, becoming the most successful bobsled athlete in Olympic history.
After sealing what he called a "dream ending", Lochner surprised the finish area with a perfectly landed backflip. Laughing, he explained it was the result of a wager with the team manager, who agreed to handle sled cleanup and storage if Lochner delivered the flip.
Cheered on by his running crew of Margis, Georg Fleischhauer and Jorg Wenzel, Lochner declared that celebrations could begin immediately. He later called on staff at the German team house to stock the fridges for what he described as the biggest party of the Games.
Friedrich and his team said they would consider competing for another four years, but stressed that no decision had been made and that they would take time before committing to a return. ■
