The men’s luge final ended in dramatic fashion to show us all both the joy and despair that comes with competing at the Olympic Games.

David Gleirscher became the first Austrian in 50 years to win the gold medal in this event with a superb and faultless final run.

The 23-year-old, who is making his Olympic debut in Pyeongchang, has failed to end on the podium in any World Cup events leading up to the games.

Gleirscher started his final run in third place, with many predicting that leader Felix Loch would hold on to the gold.

The 28-year-old German was hoping to equal Georg Hackl’s record of winning three straight luge gold medals and looked well on course to do just that after his first three attempts.

However, after clipping the wall halfway through his final run, Loch ended up with nothing at all, finishing in fifth place. Whilst Gleirscher celebrated with his Austrian teammates, the German was inconsolable- sitting at the end of the track with his head in his hands.

Events such as the Luge can be won and lost by the slightest error. There is a fine line between success and failure. Four years of hard work and dedication can be ruined in less than a thousandth of a second as you fly down the track.

The secret to success is a simple one: Consistency. Chris Mazdzer did just that. Four clean runs resulted in him becoming the first American to win a medal in this event.

Elsewhere in the snowboarding, Red Gerard became the first Winter Olympic champion to be born this century.

The 17-year old produced a clean run in his final attempt and is now the second youngest athlete to ever win a gold medal in the Winter Olympics.

MEDAL WINNERS: DAY TWO

Men’s luge: Gold- David Gleirscher (AUSTRIA), Chris Mazdzer (USA), Johannes Ludwig (GERMANY)

Men’s skiathlon: Gold- Simen Hegstad Kruger (NORWAY), Silver- Martin Johnsrud Sundby (NORWAY), Bronze- Hans Christer Holund (NORWAY)

Women’s moguls: Gold- Perrine Laffont (FRANCE), Silver- Justine Dufour-Lapointe (CANADA), Bronze- Yulia Galysheva (KAZAKHSTAN)

Men’s 10km biathlon sprint: Gold- Arnd Peiffer (GERMANY), Silver- Michal Krcmar (CZECH REPUBLIC), Bronze- Dominik Windisch (ITALY)

Men’s 5,000m speed skating:  Gold- Sven Kramer (NETHERLANDS), Silver- Ted-Jan Bloemen (CANADA), Bronze- Sverre Lunde Pedersen (NORWAY)

Men’s slopestyle: Gold- Red Gerard (USA), Silver- Max Parrot (CANADA), Bronze- Mark McMorris (CANADA)