Bota wins silver medal in Olympic luge

CORTINA D'AMPEZZO (Italy) - Latvian athlete Elina Ieva Bota won the silver medal in the Olympic women's luge event on Tuesday, which is the first medal for Latvia at these Olympic Games.

Bota is also the first athlete in the history of independent Latvia to win a medal in the luge women's singles. In 1980, Vera Zozula won the Olympic title and Ingrida Amantova won bronze in Lake Placid.

Germany's Julia Taubitz became the Olympic champion in Cortina d'Ampezzo. She was the fastest in the first three runs, finishing 0.918 seconds ahead Bota overall. US athlete Ashley Farquharson placed third, 0.039 seconds behind Bota, followed by Italy's Verena Hofer 0.063 seconds behind the top three.

Latvia's Kendija Aparjode concluded the Olympic luge competition in 16th place.

Bota was fifth after the first run and third in the second, which gave her third place overall after the first day. On Tuesday, she moved up to second place after the third run and was 0.704 seconds behind Taubitz before the final run.