KONIGSSEE – Russia’s Roman Repilov won his second consecutive men’s luge world championship Saturday, overtaking World Cup champion Felix Loch in the second heat to successfully defend the title.
But after hoisting his gold medal, Repilov removed his hat in preparation for the winner’s flag to be displayed and anthem to blare.
That was not the case. Russian athletes can participate in the luge world championships, but only as neutral competitors and not officially representing their country because of the sanctions levied against that nation for a doping scandal.
The flag displayed in Repilov’s honor was the International Luge Federation’s, a blue outline of a luge athlete on a sled with a white background.