 The Germans beat Canada by 0.21 seconds |
Germany's Andre Lange and Kevin Kuske sealed Olympic gold on the final day of the two-man bobsleigh in Cesana. In poor weather conditions, the German duo extended their lead in the final run to 0.21 seconds to win in three minutes 43.38 seconds.
Canadians Pierre Lueders and Lascelles Brown took silver with Switzerland 1 challenger Martin Annen and Beat Hefti in third on 3:43.73.
Britons Lee Johnston and Dan Humphries were 2.96 seconds off the pace in 15th.
Lange, four-man champion in Salt Lake City four years ago, and brakeman Kuske mastered the tricky Cesana track in difficult conditions with heavy snowfalls.
The Germany I sled had led after the first two runs on Saturday and maintained their country's iron grip on the sport as the snow fell harder in the third and fourth heats.
However, competition was clouded by earlier allegations that Germany may have used illegally hardened sled runners.
Lueders was among those who were suspicious of the Germans' performances.
On Saturday, he pointed to remarkable second runs by both Lange and Matthias Hoepfner in Germany-2 as evidence. Hoepfner finished fifth.
MMIX
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