Olympic Updates

WHISTLER, British Columbia [AP] — Tatjana Huefner said she was nervous.

So nervous, Huefner was, that before her final run of the women's luge event at the Vancouver Games she ... found a quiet spot near the starting line and took a half-hour nap.

And when asked when she arrived at these Olympics expecting a gold medal, Huefner replied, "Uh, yes."

Uh, yes, she delivered, adding yet another layer Tuesday to her country's magnificent run of dominance in the fastest sliding sport, giving Germany its ninth women's luge gold in 13 Olympic competitions.

"I wanted to win here," Huefner said, "and I'm very happy that the dream came true."

Her four-run time of 2 minutes, 46.524 seconds was 0.490 seconds better than Austrian silver medalist Nina Reithmayer. Germany's Natalie Geisenberger took the bronze.

The bronze medalist at Turin in 2006, Huefner slapped the ice when this one was over, then got almost tackled by Geisenberger, who rushed over to deliver a massive hug before the new Olympic champion wrapped herself in the German flag.

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