Linger brothers repeat 2006 Olympic Gold triumph
Austrian two-seater Lugers Andreas and Wolfgang Linger, from Hall in Tyrol, defended their 2006 Olympic Gold medal in yesterdays (Weds) Vancouver Games event.Wolfgang Linger said after the race: “We sleighed on a wave of euphoria. My brother and I have been dreaming of this moment for four years since our victory at the Turin Games. The preparations for Vancouver started immediately afterwards.”His brother Andreas added: “This time it was more difficult than four years ago as the circumstances have changed. Now we were favourites and I almost lost my voice by screaming out my joy right after the second leg.”Cousins Tobias and Markus Schiegl, from Kufstein in Tyrol, finished in a disappointing eighth place.”We expected more,” Markus Schiegl admitted.Latvian pairing Andris and Juris Sics won silver, while German team Patric Leitner / Alexander Resch came third.Andreas and Wolfgang Lingers gold medal was the 18th Austrian medal in the two-seater luger competition at the Olympic Games.Austria has improved to ninth place in the Vancouver medals table with five medals.The 2006 Games in Turin, Italy, were the most successful for Austria as nine gold, seven silver and seven bronze medals were won.