Germany continues to dominate luge events with a gold in doubles

SOCHI, Russia, Feb. 12 (UPI) -- Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt extended Germany's luge dominance by winning the gold medal in the doubles event at the Sochi Games.

The 26-year-old pair, who are the reigning world champions, beat out Austrian brothers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger, who won silver. Silver medalists at the Vancouver games, Andris and Juris Sics of Latvia, came in third to claim the bronze medal.

With this victory, Germany has won all three luge events so far at the Sochi Games. If they win the team relay, a new Olympic event, they will sweep all the luge events.

Wendl and Arlt broke the course record on their first run with a time of 49.373 seconds, and were a little slower in their second run. Bronze medal contenders after the first run, Peter Penz and Georg Fischer of Austria, floundered in their second run and eventually finished last.

Americans Christian Niccum and Jayson Terdiman were 11th and Matt Mortensen and Preston Griffall were 14th.

Romanians Radu Sovaiala and Alexandru Teodorescu were not allowed to participate after their backup sled was deemed unsafe. The duo crashed their sled last week during an unofficial practice run, and had to have a replacement flown in from Romania, which was calibrated for another team, making it difficult for Sovaiala and Teodorescu to steer.

[USAToday] [BBC]