Beijing 2022 Skeleton wrap-up – top stories, moments and records

It's strange to think that powerhouse sliding nation Germany won its first-ever men's skeleton Olympic medals at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics.

Christopher Grotheer went into the men's race as the heavy favourite, and the reigning world champion delivered a masterclass at the Yanqing National Sliding Centre to clinch gold.

But if truth be told, the Olympic title was surely never in doubt for the Germans, with Grotheer's compatriot Axel Jungk - who has battled back from several injuries in the past Olympic cycles - sealing the silver medal.

There was also jubilation in the stands as men's bronze medallist Yan Wengang won the People's Republic of China's first ever Olympic medal in sliding sports.

Germany had a historic result as well in the woman's event, with Hannah Neise clinching gold and becoming the first woman to win a skeleton event for Germany at the Olympic Winter Games. Jaclyn Narracott also made history claiming silver and winning the first ever medal in skeleton for Australia.

Current World Cup winner, Kimberley Bos of the Netherlands, launched an epic fightback from 10th place from heat 1 to get onto the podium with a bronze medal.

After winning the past two world championship titles, this was always Grotheer's race to lose.

But the pressure of winning his nation's first men's Olympic skeleton medal, coupled with a star-studded line up of rivals including resurgent six-time world champion Martins Dukurs and Olympic champions Alexander Tretiakov and Yun Sung-bin, meant that nothing was guaranteed.

In the end Grotheer showed nerves of steel to execute three perfect runs which sealed him, and Germany, a place in skeleton history.

His memories of finishing eighth at PyeongChang 2018 have been well and truly