Forgan and Kirkby win another World Cup luge doubles medal for the US, placing 3rd in Oberhof

OBERHOF, Germany (AP) — Chevonne Forgan and Sophie Kirkby of the U.S. won a bronze medal in a World Cup women's doubles luge race Saturday, their second podium finish in three races this season.

The Austrian team of Selina Egle and Lara Kipp won the race, with the German team of Jessica Degenhardt and Cheyenne Rosenthal finishing second for the third consecutive race.

Forgan and Kirkby were third, benefitting from the German sled of Dajana Eitberger and Magdalena Matschina skidding and losing time in the final meters of their second run.

“We’re so happy to get back on the podium,” Forgan said. “I’m really happy to have two good runs today.”

Forgan and Kirkby — who are third in the women's doubles World Cup standings through three races — finished sixth and seventh in two World Cup races at the historic Oberhof track last season.

“I thought the conditions were way better than last year,” Kirkby said. “It was great turnout and lovely weather here in Oberhof for a World Cup.”

USA Luge had a top-five in the women's singles race Saturday, with Ashley Farquharson grabbing the fifth spot for her best finish of the season. Austria’s Madeleine Egle won the race, with teammate Lisa Schulte second and Germany’s Julia Taubitz third.

Emily Sweeney of the U.S. did not compete Saturday after feeling some neck discomfort. Sweeney has dealt with similar issues from time to time since breaking her neck in a crash at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.

In the men’s doubles race, Germany took gold and silver with Hannes Orlamuender and Paul Gubitz winning and Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt grabbing second. Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl of Austria won bronze.

Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa were the top U.S. men's sled, finishing ninth in the doubles race.

Kellogg-Ike sled sidelined

The U.S. men's doubles team of Dana Kellogg and Frank Ike did not compete this weekend and won't be together on a sled again for the foreseeable future.

Kellogg will undergo surgery on Monday to repair a dislocated shoulder. He got hurt during a World Cup race in Igls, Austria, last weekend.

Bobsled

Germany took four of six available medals in bobsled World Cup races in Sigulda, Latvia, on Saturday. The Germans won gold and silver in both races.

In women’s monobob, Lisa Buckwitz held off fellow German slider Laura Nolte for the win, with Australia’s Breeana Walker grabbing third.

Kaysha Love of the U.S. led the Americans, finishing sixth.

Francesco Friedrich and Simon Wulff won again in two-man, with Johannes Lochner and Georg Fleischhauer finishing second. Austria took bronze, with the team of Markus Treichl and Sascha Stepan finishing about a second behind Friedrich’s sled.

The U.S. sled of Frank del Duca and Carsten Vissering was 11th.

Up next

Luge: World Cup men's singles and team relay at Oberhof, Germany, Sunday.

Bobsled: World Cup two-man and two-woman at Sigulda, Latvia, Sunday.

Skeleton: World Cup at Winterberg, Germany, on Jan. 3.

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