Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis of Germany rejoice in their victory as they cross the finish line in the men’s bobsleigh race in the 2016-2017 BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 18.
Germany’s strength in bobsledding has come to the fore once again in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province.
The German bobsleigh team of Francesco Friedrich, the pilot, and Thorsten Margis, the brakeman, defended its championship title in the men’s bobsleigh race in the 2016-2017 BMW International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation (IBSF) World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang on March 18. The duo finished in first place with a time of 1:40.82 after two runs, logging 50.24 seconds in the first race and 50.58 seconds in the second run.
Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis of Germany speed through curve No. 8 at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang, Gangwon-do Province, on March 18, during the men’s doubles in the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup.
The German team seemed, literally, unparalleled in this sport, a sport in which one hundredth of a second can determine an athlete’s place on the podium. Germany edged out the runner-up, the Latvian team of Oskars Kibermanis and Matiss Miknis, by a margin of 0.3 seconds. There was merely 0.04 seconds between the runner-up and another German duo, Johannes Lochner and Joshua Bluhm in third place: 1:41.12 and 1:41.16.
“We are very happy to win today,” said the gold medalist Friedrich. “We will have four runs at next year’s PyeongChang Olympic Games, not two runs like in this test event. We must make four clean runs, so that we can grasp a gold next year.” Regarding the track, the German champion said, “The most difficult corners on the track for me are corners No.s 2, 9, 12 and 15. We must be very clean on these curves to get a good time.”
Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo of Korea cross the finish line in the men’s bobsleigh race in the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup, at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang on March 18.
Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo of Korea, meanwhile, finished in fifth on the home track with a time of 1:41.22, a score which was far behind the high expectations for a medal among the home fans. Nonetheless, the pair kept their smile on their faces, as they could finish the season in third place overall.
“I feel sorry for today’s performance,” said Won Yun-jong, the pilot of Team Korea. “However, we will practice more and work harder to put on a better performance next year here in Pyeongchang. Our goal is, of course, to win a gold medal,” he said.
By Kang Gahui, Kim Young-ah, Sohn JiAe
Korea.net Staff Writers
Photos: Jeon Han Korea.net Photographer
Kgh89@korea.kr
Teams from Germany, the U.S. and Korea, which finished the 2016-2017 season of the BMW IBSF World Cup in first, second and third place, respectively, smile as they hold up their trophies during the awards ceremony at the Alpensia Sliding Center in Pyeongchang on March 18. From left: Steven Holcomb and Carlo Vales of the U.S., Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis of Germany, and Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo of Korea.
Won Yun-jong and Seo Young-woo of Korea speed down the track at the Alpensia Sliding Center in the men’s bobsleigh race, the final race of the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup, on March 18.
The Alpensia Ski Jumping Center fades away in the background after sunset at the Alpensia Sliding Center where the men’s bobsleigh race in the 2016-2017 BMW IBSF World Cup is underway on March 18.
