Germany’s Antonia Pietschmann wins first gold of the Winter Youth Olympic Games Gangwon 2024 in Women’s Luge as Italy’s Manuel Weissensteiner continues family Olympic tradition with gold in Men’s Doubles
IOC
20 January 2024 – Germany’s Antonia Pietschmann claimed the first gold medal of the Winter Youth Olympic Games (YOG) Gangwon 2024 with victory in the Women’s Luge.
On the first morning of competition in the first YOG to take place in Asia, Pietschmann dominated the event as she was quickest on both runs at the Alpensia Sliding Centre. She finished half a second ahead of silver medallist Alexandra Olberstolz of Italy and bronze medallist Marie Riedl of Austria.
In the men’s doubles, Italy’s Manuel Weissensteiner partnered Philipp Brunner to gold. Weissensteiner is the son of 1994 Olympic Gold Medallist Gerda Weissensteiner and says the medal will go on display next to hers at the family home.
Latvia’s Janis Gruzdulis-Borovojs and Edens Cepulis took silver with the German pair of Louis Gruenbeck and Max Kuehrt finishing in the bronze medal position.
Gangwon 2024 runs until February 1, with more than 1800 athletes from 78 NOCs taking part. The Winter Youth Olympic Games is filmed for live television and digital streaming on Olympic Channel via Olympics.com and the Olympics app, with full session replays and highlights also available.
