Going for Gold: Thorsten Margis Takes On Rival Friedrich and Teams Up with Lochner
Intense noise from Germany's high-speed sleds echoed prominently.
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp E-Mail Print Copy Link Share 4 Times: Thorsten Margis Secures Olympics Gold with Four-Time Champion Friedrich – Now, He's Taking on His Boss: Margis is set to strengthen Johannes Lochner's leading competitors. And aims to bring a new spirit to the team.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist, Thorsten Margis, begins his preparations for the 2026 Winter Games, not with his longtime pilot Francesco Friedrich, but with German competitor Johannes Lochner. After a season-long break, the 35-year-old anchor starts anew with the Olympic Silver-medalist Lochner from Berchtesgaden.
"We're not tilling this soil to win a medal. No, we aim for Gold and to become Olympic champions – nothing else!" Margis, a ten-time world champion, asserted in an interview with the German Bob and Sledding Association (BSD).
Margis' mental fortitude is predicted to bolster the Bavarian team against the reigning pilot from Saxony. "Hansi came agonizingly close and failed, while Lochner's start times were often slower with each run. Those are things we need to get a grip on," Margis emphasized, focusing primarily on Lochner's driving skills: "He put me and Franz under pressure in 2022 in Peking, he was always exceptionally fast and talented."
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Pursuing Double Olympic Gold
While record-breaking world champion Friedrich is also celebrated as a perfectionist, meticulously scrutinizing every detail, Lochner places more emphasis on fun and enthusiasm. "If we approach this project - and that should be at the forefront of everyone's mind in the team - then we aim for gold in both disciplines," Margis proclaimed, and supports the rowers of the two-man bobsled, Georg Fleischhauer, as well.
In fact, the duo clinched gold in the small bobsled at the 2023 World Championships in St. Moritz against Friedrich. "My personal goal now is to get on the sled and feel secure there," Margis particularly noted, focusing on the four-man bobsled, where he competes against Florian Bauer, Erec Bruckert, and Jörn Wenzel.
Source: ntv.de, ter/dpa
- Olympic Games
- Winter Sports
Knowing that Margis' previous partnership with Friedrich was very successful but was not enough to secure their triple Olympic gold in Beijing with a strong emphasis on precision and consistency, Margis may aim to bring a fresh and unorthodox approach to the team with Lochner, who excels in speed and aggressiveness. However, it is uncertain whether the formation of a new team by Margis will be permanent or merely a strategic move for the 2026 Winter Olympics. A potential rivalry might also develop between Margis and Friedrich, influenced by this team change.
Other than his previous partnership with Friedrich, Margis, aiming for Olympic gold, is now teaming up with Lochner, bringing a new spirit to the team that emphasizes speed and aggressiveness in sports like football and other winter sports. This new team formation could potentially lead to an interesting rivalry between Margis and Friedrich.
