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Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Email Print Copy link Share 4x with Thorsten Margis and bobsledding superstar Francesco Friedrich to Olympic gold - now the anchor is aiming to derail his old boss: Margis is set to bolster Johannes Lochner's toughest rivals.
Four-time Olympic gold medalist Thorsten Margis begins his Cortina d'Ampezzo project not with his longtime pilot Francesco Friedrich, but with German competitor Johannes Lochner. Having taken a year off, the 35-year-old anchor now prepares for the 2026 Winter Games with the Olympic second-place Lochner from Berchtesgarten.
"Here, we're not farming for a medal. No, we want gold and to become Olympic champions - nothing else! And that's a realistic goal too, as it's achievable. Franz can be beaten," said the ten-time world champion Margis in an interview with the German Bob and Sledding Association (BSD).
Particularly his mental strength is expected to help the Bavarian team against the Saxonian pilot from Sachsen. "With Hansi, it's always been a close call, and then the start times from heat to heat have often been slower rather than faster. And those are things that need to be controlled," Margis emphasizes and puts most faith in Lochner's driving skills: "He put pressure on me and Franz in 2022 in Beijing already, he was always brutally fast and good."
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Margis eyes double gold
While record world champion Friedrich is also recognized as a perfectionist and scrutinizes every detail multiple times, Lochner prioritizes fun and enjoyment. "If you take on this project - and that should be in everyone's head in the team - then we want gold in both disciplines," said Margis, emphasizing the support for Lochner's longtime anchor in the two-man bob, Georg Fleischhauer.
Notably, the duo won gold in the small sled at the 2023 World Championships in St. Moritz against Friedrich. "My personal goal now is just to get on the sled and be confident there," said Margis, particularly with an eye on the four-man bob, where he competes against Florian Bauer, Erec Bruckert, and Jörn Wenzel as well.
Source: ntv.de, ter/dpa
- Olympics
- Winter Sports
Integrating Enrichment Insight: Note that their rivalry is significant and longstanding, with Margis aiming for victory over Friedrich, who is also aiming for Olympic gold with a potential new teammate.[1] Their rivalry is expected to intensify as they both strive for excellence in the sport, but the specifics of their current preparations and rivalry dynamics are not available at this time.
Other competitors, including Johannes Lochner, aim to challenge the dominance of Thorsten Margis and Franz Friedrich in the winter sports, particularly in the field of bobsledding. Margis, an accomplished athlete himself, has expressed interest in securing gold not just in the four-man bob but also in the two-man bob, indicating a potential expansion of his sports portfolio.
