Germany's Hopefuls at the Winter Olympics

Germans, with their inclination to avoid outward displays of nationalism, probably weren't even keeping track of the medal count during the 2002 Winter Olympic games.

But their countrymen did, in fact, win 36 medals -- two more than the US team. This year, they are again one of the favorites, along with Norway and the United States, to win the mythical title in Turin, Italy.

The pressure to win medals, of course, runs counter to an important tenet of the Olympic oath.

"The important thing in the Olympic Games is not to win but to take part, just as the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle," it goes.

Be that as it may, there's a few Germans to watch out for in the next couple of weeks.

The everyman luger

Start with the guy who Germans have been watching for a very long time. Luger Georg Hackl made history in the 1998 games in Nagano, Japan, when he became the fifth Winter Olympian to win an individual event at three consecutive games. In Salt Lake City, Hackl won silver and became the first Olympic athlete (winter or summer) to earn an individual medal at five consecutive Games (he also won silver in 1988).

Guess what? Hackl's back. At age 39, he may not look the part of a gold medal contender. He's carrying 175 pounds (80 kilograms) on his 5 foot 8 inch (172 centimeters) frame.

He does like his wheat beer.

"Most of the time, I train alone because other members of the team are so much younger," he said. "The training schedule makes sense with young people, but it doesn’t make sense for people with more than 20 years experience."

Hackl's strong finishes in international competition since 2002 put him right back into medal contention in 2006 barring a crash -- or a burst seam in his wind shearing suit.

The next generation

Hackl will be challenged, however, by David Möller, who leads Germany's next generation of lugers. Möller won a gold medal at the 2004 World Championships and a bronze in 2005.

Germany's women lugers have gone 1-2-3 at every major event since 1999 and many believe they will keep that streak alive in Turin. The luge doubles also could bring gold to Germany for both men and women. In total, the German luge team could bring home seven medals on its own.

On the bobsled track, Andre Lange leads the defending Olympic four-man gold medal team, though there has not been a repeat winner in the event since 1980. Lange switched to bobsled from the luge more than a decade ago.

"I worked very hard, but I didn't expect to have the speed come so fast," he said.

Lange is a four-time world champion piloting the four-man sled, and three-time overall World Cup champion. But in the 2005-06 season, he placed out of the medals in both two-man and four-man competitions behind his teammate Matthias Hoepfner, a definite medal contender.

Salt Lake City silver medalist Sandra Kiriasis took gold last year in the women's World Championships and is Germany's top challenger for the women.

Is the girls' fight over?

Turin's oval Lingotto speed-skating surface will prove a battle ground for two of Germany's best known athletes, both of whom now claim their heated rivalry is a thing of the past. Anni Friesinger and Claudia Pechstein each won gold at the 2002 games.

The German media hitched up to their confrontations starting with a race just before the Salt Lake City games in which Pechstein announced she was ill. She then proceeded to blow the competition away, including Friesinger, in the 5,000 meter event, prompting Friesinger to angrily tell German television, "Well, she can't have been that sick, can she?"

The remark added a spark to viewer interest in the 2002 games. The two women even accused each other of underhanded tactics to disrupt each other's preparations. It all became a tabloid editor's dream as newspapers dubbed the rivalry, Das Zickenduell, or girls' fight. Both athletes, however, have rather pleasant exteriors and both have allowed themselves to be photographed extensively in various degrees of dress, adding further to the tabloid interest.

Friesinger is a favorite in the 1,500m, and possibly the 1,000m and 3,000m. She will also race in the 5,000m and a new event, team pursuit. Her toughest challenge in the 3,000m and 5,000m may come from Pechstein, a four-time Olympic champion.

"Everyone says I could win four gold medals," Friesinger recently told a gathering of German media. "But my dream would be one gold medal and it doesn't matter in which event. There must be at least one Olympic gold medal in there somewhere. Whatever else comes on top I'll happily take."

Germans are divided on just whom to support. Most are either "Anni fans" or on "Claudi's side." Lately, the women have mended their most serious differences. They now play on their rivalry in an advertisement for a travel agency.

"We're never going to become close friends," Friesinger said. "But we respect each other. Our relationship is normal now. There aren't any problems any more. We've had a truce for a while now."

Turbo Disl

Biathlon's combination of cross-country skiing and marksmanship has been a perfect fit for Uschi Disl. She has eight Olympic and 15 world championship medals in the biathlon. Turin is her fifth and final Winter Games.

In 2005, "Turbo Disl" was named Germany's Sportswoman of the Year in a moving ceremony in which her brother, who recently faced a critical illness, presented the award.

There's little wonder why Germans see a steady stream of biathlon events on television. Germany's women and men far and away lead those countries currently competing in biathlon with 27 total medals, followed by Norway's 17. In Salt Lake City, Germany won nine biathlon medals. If Disl wins four medals in Turin, she would tie Norwegian cross-country skier Bjorn Daehlie for the most medals in Winter Games history (12).

Teammate Kati Wilhelm, who sports neon red hair, is a favorite after winning two golds and a silver in 2002.

"Four years ago, I was a 'No Name' and had no pressure," said Wilhelm, who will carry the German flag during the opening ceremony. "Now it will be a lot tougher."

For the men, Ricco Gross is expected to build on his seven total Olympic medals, more than any other male biathlete.

Watch for these Germans, too

Ronny Ackermann is a favorite in the nordic combined competition, but probably not amongst his peers. When he lost to Hannu Manninen of Finland recently, Ackermann swung his ski pole and hit Manninen, who was celebrating by making a snow angel. The two refused to shake hands on the medal podium. But Ackermann won the sprint and individual events at the World Championships and helped Germany to second in the team event.

Rene Sommerfeldt and Axel Teichmann have taken the past two overall World Cup titles in men's cross-country skiing.

Martina Ertl looks like a potential medalist in the mountains. She's won three medals in five separate Winter Games and competes this time in the combined and giant slalom ski competitions.

And watch out for German athletes in women's skeleton, men's curling and men's halfpipe snowboard competitions.

And the medal count?

Not that Germans really care, but Ladbrokes, the British gambling concern, puts Germany at even money to win the most gold medals, and 6-10 to win the most medals of any color in Turin. Norway and the United States are not expected to be far behind.

Ladbrokes officials must certainly maintain, however, that the important thing in life is not the triumph but the struggle.