Johannes Ludwig let all his rivals know back in November that he would be the one to beat at the Beijing Olympics.

Mikaela Shiffrin’s first event of the Beijing Olympics is the one she won four years ago.

Leading after two heats, Germany's luger Johannes Ludwig broke a course record at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre.

(AP Photo/Andreas Schaad)KONIGSSEE – Russia’s Roman Repilov won his second consecutive men’s luge world championship Saturday, overtaking World Cup champion Felix Loch in the second heat to successfully defend the title. But after hoisting his gold medal, Repilov removed his hat in preparation for the winner’s flag to be displayed and anthem to blare. Russian athletes can participate in the luge world championships, but only as neutral competitors and not officially representing their country because of the sanctions levied against that nation for a doping scandal. Russian athletes who medal at the Tokyo Olympics this summer or the Beijing Games in February 2022 will experience similar scenes; no Russian flag, no Russian anthem. Margit Schumann of East Germany won four consecutive women’s world luge titles from 1973 through 1977.