Germany's Andre Lange retires

WHISTLER, British Columbia (AP) German sliding legend Andre Lange tasted Olympic defeat for the very first time in the last race of his final Olympics.

The only bobsled driver to win four Olympic golds, Lange's brilliant racing career ended on Saturday with a second-place finish in the four-man competition.

USA-1 driver Steve Holcomb ended Lange's unbeaten Olympic record and at the same time broke a 62-year gold-medal drought for the Americans.

But even with no chance to win, Lange swiped silver away from Canada's Lyndon Rush, edging him by the narrowest of margins - .01 seconds - with a blistering final run.

When Rush's time flashed on the scoreboard, Lange and longtime teammate Kevin Kuske celebrated as if they had won a fifth gold.

"We just pulled ourselves together and slid down the track," Lange said. "To be honest, I didn't really think it would happen - but it did."

While Lange is retiring, his legacy endures.

Last week, the 36-year-old defended his title in the two-man event and was aiming to win his third straight gold in four-man following victories at Salt Lake in 2002 and Turin 2006. Holcomb may have denied him in his drive for five, but Lange left these games fulfilled.

"In these two weeks in Canada, I've experienced more than anyone can experience in a career," he said.

Lange began his sliding career on a luge but switched to bobsled in his late teens. Superstitiously dying his hair a golden blond before big races, he dominated tracks all over the world, racking up world championships and World Cup titles.

He made his biggest mark in the Olympics, becoming the first pilot to win four golds.

After screaming down the Whistler Sliding Center track and sliding across the finish line, Lange knew his sliding days were over.

"When I stepped out of the sled, I had to take a deep breath and tears came to my eyes," Lange said. "It feels like a huge burden has been lifted. A new life begins, a normal life and it's scary."

Lange is adamant he'll never race again.

"No, there is nothing that could change my mind," he said. "I've won so many titles. I stood up here in 2006 when this track was built and I know this would be a good place to retire."

Following his last event, Lange walked through the media mixed zone wearing a hooded jacket. As always, his teammates - Alexander Roedinger, Martin Putze and Kevin Kuske, the hulking brakeman and Lange's teammate for each of his Olympic wins - were behind him.

They wore white T-shirts with gold letters that read: Thank You Andre For All The Famous Moments. The words encircled the image of a bear. Lange's nickname is "barchen," little bear in German.

He's going into hibernation.

"I know it's the right time to quit," he said. "I will start a new life, a real life from the rosy career I've been leading."

Copyright 2012 by STATS LLC and Associated Press. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of STATS LLC and Associated Press is strictly prohibited.