Germany's Georg Hackl has won his third, consecutive men's luge singles gold medal at Nagano on Monday, timing 3min 18.436 seconds, to edge out silver medallist Armin Zoeggeler by half a second.

Hackl led from the start and the firm favourite never looked in doubt of losing a 0.213 second lead built up from the event's first two runs on Sunday.

Looks familiar? Georg Hackl on the winners podium again

Jens Muller of Germany took the bronze in 3min 19.093sec

Hackl, nicknamed the "speeding sausage" now enters a select band of three-in-a-row Winter Olympians.

Only five other athletes have previously won three consecutive Winter Olympic golds in the same event: figure skaters Gillis Grafstrom of Sweden, Norway's Sonja Henie and Irina Rodnina of the former Soviet Union; Nordic combined competitor Ulrich Wehling of the former East Germany; and US speed skater Bonnie Blair.

Banana boots

Hackl, three times world champion and double World Cup winner, had caused a stir earlier in the tournament for using aerodynamic bright yellow boots bringing protests from rivals.

But the 31-year-old Bavarian, shrugging off controversy, put the boot in to claiming his accustomed spot on top of the podium and a place in Winter Olympic history.

Throughout the two days of competition, Hackl has been a model of consistency, posting fast times including an event-best 49.573sec in the second run.

Luge competitors can reach speeds of 130km/hour; Georg Hackl has shown he can put on a performance in a sport where literally every millisecond counts.

Final places

• 1. Georg Hackl (GER)
• 2. Armin Zoeggeler (ITA)
• 3. Jens Mueller (GER)
• 4. Markus Prock (AUT)
• 5. Markus Kleinheinz (AUT)
• 6. Wendel Suckow (USA)
• 7. Gerhard Gleirscher (AUT)
• 8. Reinhold Rainer (ITA)
• 9. Adam Heidt (USA)
• 10. Norbert Huber (ITA)

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