Yanqing, 11 Feb (Xinhua) -- The official snowmobile competition for the Beijing Winter Olympics will begin on February 13, and the world's top snowmobilers have now begun official training at the Yanqing National Bobsleigh Center. Not surprisingly, the project's legendary German Friedrich will be the biggest favourite for the men's double and four-man snowmobile events.
Champion Germany's Friedrich (right)/Maggis at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics Men's Doubles Ceremony on February 20, 2018. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Wu Zhuang
In the women's side, the Elana Meyers Taylor team from the United States and the Laura Nolt team from Germany are expected to win gold in the women's double snowmobile event, while in the single snowmobile event, Germany, the United States, Australia, Canada and other teams will compete fiercely for the new gold medal set up at the Winter Olympics.
Anyone who knows a little about the bobsleigh project cannot be unaware of Friedrich's name. From the 2018-2019 season to the present, the German has ranked first in the overall world cup rankings of the International Snowmobile and Steel Frame Snowmobile Federation, ranking first in the men's four-man and double snowmobiles for four consecutive seasons. In this season's World Cup, Friedrich won 14 titles in 8 races and 16 matches. Not surprisingly, the winner of two snowmobile gold medals at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics will most likely defend his title twice at this Winter Olympics.
In the men's four-man and two-man snowmobile events, Canada's Justin Klips, the Russian Olympic Committee's Rostislav Gaityukovic, Latvia's Oscars Kibermanis and Germany's Johannes Lochner will be the main contenders for the medal. The Cripps team tied for the double-person bobsleigh event at the PyeongChang Winter Olympics four years ago and has been in slightly ups and downs this season, although in second overall World Cup results in both events. Kibermanis beat Friedrich in the four-man snowmobile event at the Final World Cup, St. Moritz, Switzerland, to show their potential to win the medal.
On the women's side, American Taylor is a gold medalist in the double and single bobsleigh events. However, not long ago, she tested positive for new crown pneumonia nucleic acid, and although she has begun to participate in the official training of the Winter Olympic snowmobile project, she admits frankly: "My state is not ideal, not in the best state, because I have been isolated for a period of time, and the track in Yanqing is very challenging." ”
On February 21, 2018, U.S. Taylor/Gibbs finished second in the women's doubles race on the snowmobile at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics. Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Bai Xuefei
In the women's singles snowsleigh, Taylor admitted that Australia's Brianna Walker, Canadians Christina De Bruin and Cynthia Apia are all strong contenders for the gold medal in the event.
Also, don't overlook The German Laura Nolte, who is not only the gold medalist in the women's single bobsleigh at the 2016 Youth Olympics, but also at the doubles level, her combination with Deborah Levy is also second in the doubles rankings of this season's World Cup double bobsleigh list. Although it is her first time to participate in the Winter Olympics, Norte has won two bronze medals at last year's World Championships, and she will become a "fresh force" to impact medals and even gold medals in the women's double bobsleigh event.
Mainland China only established the snowmobile national team in 2016, and there is still a gap between the project and the world's advanced level. Objectively speaking, it is unlikely that the mainland snowmobile players will stand on the podium this time. However, in terms of women's snowmobiles, mainland players Ying Qing and Huai Mingming may play beyond the level, thus refreshing the historical record of the Winter Olympics of Chinese snowmobiles.