Medals update: Bobsleigh legend Francesco Friedrich slides to second gold of Beijing 2022 in four-man final

The German makes it four golds from four, after winning the Beijing 2022 two-man competition and double gold at PyeongChang 2018. Compatriot Johannes Lochner claims his second silver of the Games, with Canada's Justin Kripps winning bronze. 

 Francesco Friedrich, Thorsten Margis, Candy Bauer and Alexander Schueller of Team Germany finish their slide during the four-man Bobsleigh heat 3 on day 16 of Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games

(2022 Getty Images)

The legend of German bobsleigh star Francesco Friedrich continues after a stunning performance saw him win his second bobsleigh title of Beijing 2022 and fourth in total at the Olympic Winter Games.

Friedrich, piloting a German sled alongside Thorsten Margis, Candy Bauer and Alexander Schueller, dominated the competition setting a blazing time of 3:54.30 to take the gold.

Compatriot Johannes Lochner made it a German 1-2 with his second silver of the Games, with Justin Kripps of Canada taking bronze.

Germany's Friedrich has 10 world titles to his name, seven in the two-man and three in the four-man competition. He took that form into the Olympic competition where he has cemented his place as one of the greatest practitioners of the sport the world has ever seen.

Friedrich was elated with his team's performance in a four-man competition where they had uncharacteristically found themselves in second position after the first of four runs.

“We are so proud and so happy about the result," he exclaimed. "We gave everything we had today. We got it. The first run (yesterday) we were in second place, but for all the others we had the best time.

"We are so happy and the boys did an amazing job. Our (team) helped us at the start and by polishing the runners. We are so proud that we’ve got this. All those in the background helped us. Without that, it would be not possible to do this.”

Silver medallist Lochner described the incredible feeling of twice making it onto the Olympic podium at Beijing 2022.

"I'm really happy that I finally got my two medals in both sleds," he said. "I'm so happy with the team. Every one of us has the same medal hanging on his neck. It's unbelievable, one of the best feelings in the world."

And when asked about his rivalry with Friedrich, the second-placed German was more focused on the bonds the two have shared in careers that have followed similar paths - both of them leading to the Olympic podium.

"Next to the track we are friends, and we need to be friends because we are six months a year on the same tour," he said. "We see us every day, so it's a small bobsleigh family. When we go to the track, when we put on the helmet and close the visor, then we start to compete against and try to fight for every hundredth."

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