Julia Taubitz Secures Olympic Gold in Luge as Norway's Johan-Olav Botn Triumphs in Biathlon

At the 2026 Winter Olympics, Germany celebrated a major victory as Julia Taubitz crowned herself Olympic champion in luge, while Norway's Johan-Olav Botn delivered an emotional triumph in the men’s individual biathlon event.

Julia Taubitz dominated the luge competition, claiming gold with a commanding lead. Representing the Erzgebirge region, Taubitz’s performance stood out as she secured Germany’s next significant gold in the sport, marking a moment four years in the making since her previous competition in Beijing. Meanwhile, fellow German Merle Fräbel narrowly missed the podium.

In biathlon, the individual event in Antholz saw Johan-Olav Botn of Norway emerge victorious in a highly emotional finish. Botn dedicated his gold medal to his late friend Sivert Guttorm Bakken, who passed away in December; his flawless shooting—no misses at the range—was a rare feat not achieved by an Olympic champion since 1992. Botn edged out France’s Eric Perrot, the overall World Cup leader, who earned silver after one shooting error. German competitor Philipp Nawrath finished fifth, just outside medal contention, also with one shooting error. Other German biathletes David Zobel, Lucas Fratzscher, and Philipp Horn placed lower, with Germany still awaiting a medal in the men's individual biathlon event since Erik Lesser's silver in 2014. Finnish athlete Olli Hiidensalo achieved his best Olympic result, finishing fourth.

Taubitz’s luge gold reinforced Germany's strong tradition in the sport, while Botn’s victory brought a poignant story of loss, dedication, and prowess to the biathlon event. Taubitz expressed jubilation over her win, while Botn emotionally reflected on the memory of his friend as a source of motivation during the final rounds.

These results highlight compelling individual performances and emotional narratives at this Winter Olympics, underscoring the commitment and resilience of athletes from Germany and Norway alike.