Germany and Canada Just Tied for Olympic Gold in a Rare Finish for Two-Man Bobsled
In an unusual twist, both the German and Canadian two-man bobsled teams won gold medals at the PyeongChang 2018 Winter Olympics after finishing with exactly the same times, down to the hundredth of a second.
The team of Francesco Friedrich and Thorsten Margis of Germany were apparently an absolutely perfect match for the duo of Justin Kripps and Alexander Kopacz of Canada in their event at the Olympic Sliding Center on Monday. They were followed by Latvian bobsledders Oskars Melbardis and Janis Strenga, who took bronze.
With the top five teams separated by just 0.13 seconds on the fourth and final run — the bobsled medals are awarded based on cumulative time over four slides down the icy chute — it was going to be a close finish regardless. But the ultimate shocker was that both the Germans and Canadians ended up with that identical time.
The last time two teams tied for Olympic gold in the two-man bobsled event was back in 1998, between the Canadians (again) and the Italians. (To combat this problem, luge has already converted to scoring speed to the thousandths of a second.)
Naturally, the internet couldn’t help but be surprised with the result. In particular, people love that the Germans were so thrilled with the tie that they were the first to run over and congratulate their Canadian fellow medalists, proving that good sportsmanship at the Olympics is alive and well.
When it comes to gold, it's twice as nice for Canada and Germany!
With identical times of 3:16.86, both nations earned #gold in the two-man bobsled. #WinterOlympics https://t.co/lmErfjFIm7 pic.twitter.com/09mCQ7upUU— NBC Olympics (@NBCOlympics) February 20, 2018
i can’t believe germany and canada tied for gold in bobsled with the EXACT same time, that’s crazy yo ????
— Brea Wakenight (@bre__zzy) February 20, 2018
That was a crazy finish in bobsled! Tying for gold! Germans and Canadians were great sports congratulating each other! #Olympics
— Natasha (@Natasha_Hot1047) February 20, 2018
Love that the first to congratulate @TeamCanada @justinkripps @Kopacz77 were #TeamGermany @PdlOfficial @thorstenmargis! Such a great moment of sportsmanship. #PyeongChang2018 #bobsled ???? pic.twitter.com/KvXm0idgJu
— Jen Kuzmick (@jkuzmick) February 20, 2018
The best thing I’ve seen in quite some time was the German Bobsled’s team excitement to TIE with @TeamCanada for gold and then almost falling running on ice to congratulate them #worldhope #loveforothers #PyongChang2018
— Tim Mokry (@TimMokry) February 20, 2018
The fact that it’s even possible to tie for first in a 3 mile bobsled race to the hundredth of a second is unreal
— Tyler Small (@TylerSmall9) February 20, 2018
German athletes and Canadian athletes embracing over shared two man #bobsled tie for gold. ???? That's the spirit. #Olympics that was so close!!
— Hurricane Diana (@dianamcqueen) February 20, 2018