Altenberg (RWH) Emotional farewell for Martin Grothkopp: The bobsleigh push athlete from Germany, 2018 4-man bobsleigh Olympic Champion with pilot Francesco Friedrich, hit the start line with the team for the last time at the BMW IBSF World Cup in Altenberg (GER). The last of his 65 World Cup races - 54 in 4-man bobsleigh, 11 in 2-man bobsleigh - ended in fourth place. At the finish line, the 36-year-old was celebrated by fans and family with cheers and banners. His teammates welcomed him in specially designed shirts.
Since 2014, Martin Grothkopp has been on the World Cup podium 36 times. With the Friedrich team, he won Olympic gold as well as the World Cup titles in 2017, 2019 and 2020. The 4-man bobsleigh specialist won his only European Championship title in the small sled. In 2019, the Friedrich/Grothkopp duo won gold at the IBSF European Championships at Königssee. ©RWH2023
Photos: IBSF / Viesturs Lacis
