Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy – Johannes Lochner cemented his legacy in the world of bobsledding on Sunday, February 17, 2026, capturing Olympic gold in the two-man event and bringing his illustrious career to a triumphant close. The victory marked a historic day for Germany, which swept the podium with a dominant performance.
Lochner, with Georg Fleischhauer as his brakeman, finished with a total time of 3:39.70, a full 1.34 seconds ahead of his longtime rival, Francesco Friedrich, and Alexander Schuller. Adam Ammour and Alexander Schaller rounded out the German sweep, securing the bronze medal with a time 1.82 seconds behind Lochner. This represents the largest margin of victory in Olympic two-man bobsled since 1980.
“There is nothing cooler right now than when a plan comes together,” Lochner told Sportschau, visibly emotional after the win. “This feeling is incredible, I can’t even describe it.”
The gold medal is a particularly sweet victory for Lochner, who had previously earned two silver medals at the 2022 Beijing Olympics. He had also finished fifth in Pyeongchang in 2018. This result caps a career defined by near misses and consistent excellence.
Francesco Friedrich, a four-time Olympic bobsled champion, graciously acknowledged Lochner’s superior performance. “He was simply better throughout the entire year,” Friedrich said. “They performed the best here as well. They were just as good, if not better, at the start and were better on the track. And they found some trick with the equipment to pull ahead.”
Lochner’s decision to retire after the four-man event on Sunday is motivated by a desire to spend more time with his family, particularly his one-year-old son. “I already missed his first steps,” Lochner shared in a recent podcast. “I just want to be there to see his first time skiing and watch him grow up.”
This historic win marks the first time Germany has swept the medals in the Olympic two-man bobsled event, solidifying their dominance in the sport. The German team’s performance underscores their consistent strength and strategic preparation on the world stage.
