Germans reign in women's bobsled

PYEONGCHANG, South Korea (AP):

Up in the starting area on a frigid night in the mountains, only three women's bobsled pilots remained. One was the two-time defending Olympic gold medallist. Another was the reigning world champion. And the third was someone without a single victory of any international significance on her resume.

Guess who prevailed?

Women's bobsledding has a new star, and a surprise Olympic champion. Germany's Mariama Jamanka - winless in 23 career top-tier starts in her sport coming into the Pyeongchang Games - put together four nearly flawless runs on her way to winning gold at the Alpensia Sliding Centre on Wednesday night, holding off Elana Meyers Taylor of the US and Kaillie Humphries of Canada on her way to the medal podium's top step.

"I still can't believe it, that we won," Jamanka said. "I'm absolutely over the moon."

Jamanka and brakeman Lisa Buckwitz finished their four runs in 3 minutes, 22.45 seconds. Meyers Taylor and Lauren Gibbs of the US were second in 3:22.52, the 0.07-second margin the closest between first and second in any Olympic women's bobsled race.

Humphries - the gold medallist in 2010 and 2014 - teamed with Phylicia George to get third in 3:22.89. As it was for Meyers Taylor, it was the third Olympic medal for Humphries.

Humphries saluted the new champ afterwards.

"She did the business," Humphries said. "She did it yesterday. She did it here today. She had stiff competition with me and Elana, and it really shows the kind of athlete she is and the mental fortitude that she has."

Jamanka showed absolute nerves of steel in the ultimate moment to win the 18th Olympic gold medal in German bobsled history, the second by a woman.