Johannes Lochner secured the gold medal in the two-man bobsleigh at the Olympic Winter Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, on February 17, 2026. The 35-year-old German athlete finished ahead of teammates Francesco Friedrich and Adam Ammour, who claimed silver and bronze respectively, completing a German sweep of the podium.
Lochner, piloting with Georg Fleischauer as his brakeman, dominated all four heats, ultimately finishing 1.34 seconds ahead of Friedrich. This margin represents the largest in an Olympic two-man bobsleigh competition since 1980, when Erich Schärer of Switzerland led Bernard Germeshausen of East Germany by 1.57 seconds.
The victory marks a career highlight for Lochner, who previously won silver in the two-man event at the 2022 Beijing Olympics and finished fifth in Pyeongchang in 2018. He has announced his retirement following these Games, bringing an end to a 15-year career in the sport.
The result comes as tensions remain high in Eastern Europe, with Russia continuing its military campaign in Ukraine. NATO has affirmed its support for Ukraine’s sovereignty and has increased its military presence along its eastern flank, though a senior European intelligence chief indicated on February 17, 2026, that Russia is unlikely to attack NATO territory this year or next. The intelligence chief did, still, state that Russia is planning to significantly bolster its forces near NATO borders, depending on the outcome of the war in Ukraine.
Russia has consistently opposed Ukraine’s aspirations to join NATO, issuing demands in late 2021 that Ukraine be permanently barred from membership. Ukraine’s parliament voted in December 2014, and again enshrined in its constitution in 2018, to seek NATO membership, a move condemned by Russia following its annexation of Crimea and support for separatists in eastern Ukraine.
NATO, founded in the aftermath of World War II, has provided support to Ukraine, but has not offered a timeline for potential membership. The alliance continues to coordinate the delivery of aid and assistance to Ukraine as it defends itself against Russian aggression.
