PATSCHERKOFEL, Jan 22 - Italian duo Patrick BAUMGARTNER and Alessandro GRANDE won the Two-Man Bobsleigh in dramatic style on Sunday, taking the Gold Medal with a blistering second run at the Innsbruck 2012 Winter Youth Olympic Games.

The Italians won in a total time of 1 minute, 49.14 seconds, having raced into first place after putting down a second run that was 0.18 seconds faster than any other team.

The pair had a nervous wait in the finish area to discover if they had won Gold, however, as the three top finishers from the first run still had to go. None could catch the Italians though, and the duo were delighted after sealing Gold.

“We came through the finish and I saw our time and I was unbelievably happy,” brakeman GRANDE said. “Then I saw Latvia come through and get fourth place and it was beautiful.”

Austria claimed the Silver medal and Monaco took the Bronze.

BAUMGARTNER said the Gold medal win was a great moment for himself, his team, and Italy, which also won Gold in Men’s Doubles Luge at Innsbruck 2012.

“All we wanted to do was get a medal after placing fourth in the first run,” driver BAUMGARTNER said. “[Italy] didn’t win many medals [at the Games] but we won two Golds here on the track, so we’re very, very happy.”

The Latvians were in the lead coming into the second run and carried their speed all the way to the final corners, but came off their line in the last few turns to place fourth.

The Silver medal went to Benjamin MAIER (AUT) and Robert OFENSBERGER (AUT), who slid two consistent runs for a total time of 1:49.23.

Monaco’s team of driver Rudy RINALDI and brakeman Jeremy TORRE took the Bronze medal with a time of 1:49.31 as HSH The Sovereign Prince Albert II (MON), a five-time Olympian in Bobsleigh, and member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), cheered them on from the finish area.

“[Prince Albert] was definitely our inspiration, and the reason we became involved in Bobsleigh,” RINALDI said.

Sunday’s Bronze medallists have a long way to go to catch up to the experience of their Prince, as it was the team’s first-ever Bobsleigh competition.

“I have never competed before,” TORRE said. “We did what we could, and it worked out well for us. It’s just fantastic.”

RINALDI said a first taste of success in competition will spur the team on to compete at future international events.

“It means that we can go ahead, just the way we did, and maybe carry this momentum on to more competitions,” he said.

Prince Albert congratulated the Monaco team as they took a victory lap.

“To see the new generation coming along and doing so well, it’s pretty emotional for me,” Prince Albert said.

Prince Albert also said he is proud of the work the IOC and its President, Jacques ROGGE (BEL), have done to create the Youth Olympic Games.

“This is not only a competition for the youth of the world, but it is also a wonderful place for them to come and meet, share their experiences and to learn more about Olympic values,” he said.

YIS tb/rm