Geisenberger wins Germany's second luge gold

Rosa Khutor (Russia) (AFP) - Germany's Natalie Geisenberger won her first Olympic gold medal in women's luge singles on Tuesday and the second for her country in three days.

"I still need time to realise completely what I've done," said Geisenberger, who threw herself into the arms of compatriot Felix Loch, who won the men's event on Sunday.

"In the fourth run when I was in the lower part of the course I understood that I had won the Olympic title and almost started to shout in joy before crossing the finishing line."

Another German, Tatjana Huefner, who came to Sochi as reigning champion, was second, 1.139sec behind the winner, while Erin Hamlin finished in third place winning the US team's first singles medal after 50 years of trying.

The 26-year-old three-time world champion Geisenberger, who had a commanding 0.766sec lead after the first two races on Monday, finished with a combined time of three min 19.768sec after the four runs.

Her third run featured a new track record.

"I'm currently in my best form ever," Geisenberger, who was third at Vancouver Games, said.

"I adjusted my style for this track though it wasn't easy to do as after curve five to six it's pretty tricky.

"I'm amazed. The chance to win Olympic title may not happen again and I'm really happy that I took this occasion to win."

Meanwhile, the 27-year-old Hamlin, the 2009 world championship gold medallist, was delighted.

"It's just amazing. Before today's races I didn't allow excitement to come in. That's why I didn't feel any pressure on myself, just tried to have fun enjoying my third and second races," she said.

"Today I was hopefully paving the way for the future generations of American female lugers. And it was super motivating."