Francesco Friedrich of Germany wins 16th world bobsled championship, taking 4-man in Lake Placid

LAKE PLACID, N.Y. (AP) — Francesco Friedrich won every championship he could in bobsledding this season.

The German great is now a world champion for the 16th time, capping off his seventh four-man world title on Saturday at Mount Van Hoevenberg on the final day of the international bobsled season.

This is the sixth time — all in the last seven seasons — that Friedrich has swept the World Cup season titles in both two- and four-man, plus swept those races at either the Olympics or the world championships that season.

Friedrich finished three runs — one of the scheduled four heats was canceled on Friday because of worsening track conditions as the air temperature rose — over two days in 2 minutes, 44.52 seconds.

Johannes Lochner of Germany was second in 2:44.80 and Brad Hall of Britain was third in 2:45.00. The top American sled was driven by Frank Del Duca, who finished fourth in 2:45.64, while Kris Horn of the U.S. drove to a seventh-place finish.

“The biggest thing was just having friends and family here,” Del Duca said after wrapping up worlds on his home track in Lake Placid. “Coming up the outrun and high-fiving them and hearing them cheer was really special. It was a great time.”

Friedrich capped another year when he was the best bobsledder in the world, winning medals in all 17 of his major international races (15 World Cups, plus the two-man and four-man events in Lake Placid). He won 10 golds, also best in the world this year, with six silvers and one bronze.

Lochner finished his year with 16 medals — six gold, seven silver and three bronze.

Laura Nolte is the world champion in two-woman bobsledding for the first time, and she led Germany’s second consecutive sweep of the world championship medals in that event.

Nolte — a two-time world monobob champion, plus an Olympic gold medalist — and Deborah Levi finished four runs over two days in 3:46.00. Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig were second in 3:46.52 and Lisa Buckwitz and Kira Lipperheide were third in 3:47.46.

The U.S. took the next three spots after the Germans. Kaillie Humphries — who had a huge fourth run — teamed with Emily Renna to finish fourth, just 0.06 seconds out of the medals. World monobob champion Kaysha Love and Jazmine Jones were fifth, followed by Elana Meyers Taylor and Lolo Jones in sixth.

It was Germany’s 11th time sweeping the medals in a world championship or Olympic bobsled race. It also happened last week in the two-man competition.

Germany claimed 73 of the 103 medals awarded in World Cup and world championship bobsledding this season, winning 28 of 34 races around the world. No other nation had more than nine bobsled medals; Britain and the U.S. both finished the season with that many.

Nolte had 14 medals on the season, two more than Buckwitz for the top spot in the world in 2024-25. Kalicki had seven and Love — the top American in the overall medal standings — finished the season with six.

The international sliding season is over, though some nations are still planning some internal events while weather allows. The first major news of the sliding offseason could be the announcement on whether Cortina d'Ampezzo, Italy, will play host to the Olympic sliding events or if they will take place in Lake Placid next February.

Cortina is scheduled to hold a homologation, or track testing, event later this month. It is unclear if that will happen as planned.

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The German teams that won the top three spots in the 2-woman bobsled competition celebrate during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. From left to right, are: second-place winners Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig, first-place winners Deborah Levi and Laura Nolte, and third-place winners Lisa Buckwitz and Kira Lipperheide. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Deborah Levi, center left, and Laura Nolte celebrate after winning the the 2-woman bobsled competition during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Deborah Levi, center left, and Laura Nolte celebrate after winning the the 2-woman bobsled competition during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Deborah Levi, second from right, and Laura Nolte , right, celebrate with fans after winning the the 2-woman bobsled competition during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Lisa Buckwitz and Kira Lipperheide make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Laura Nolte and Deborah Levi make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Britain's Adele Nicoll and Ashleigh Nelson make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Canada's Bianca Ribi and Niamh Haughey make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Elana Meyers Taylor and Lolo Jones, of the United States, make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Canada's Cynthia Appiah and Skylar Sieben make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Emily Renna, of the United States, make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Kaysha Love and Jasmine Jones, of the United States, make a run in the third heat of the 2-woman bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schuller and Felix Straub celebrate after finishing their run in the fourth heat of the 4-man bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schuller and Felix Straub celebrate after finishing their run in the fourth heat of the 4-man bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

Germany's Francesco Friedrich, Matthias Sommer, Alexander Schuller and Felix Straub celebrate after finishing their run in the fourth heat of the 4-man bobsled race during the bobsled world championships, Saturday, March 15, 2025, in Lake Placid, N.Y. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (AP) — President Donald Trump said he ordered a series of airstrikes on the Houthi-held areas in Yemen on Saturday, promising to use “overwhelming lethal force” until the Iran-backed rebels cease their attacks on shipping along a vital maritime corridor. The Houthis said at least 31 people were killed.

“Our brave Warfighters are right now carrying out aerial attacks on the terrorists’ bases, leaders, and missile defenses to protect American shipping, air, and naval assets, and to restore Navigational Freedom,” Trump said in a social media post. “No terrorist force will stop American commercial and naval vessels from freely sailing the Waterways of the World.”

He also warned Iran to stop supporting the rebel group, promising to hold the country “fully accountable” for the actions of its proxy. It comes two weeks after the U.S. leader sent a letter to Iranian leaders offering a path to restarting bilateral talks between the countries on Iran’s advancing nuclear program. Trump has said he will not allow it to become operational.

The Houthis reported explosions in their territory Saturday evening, in the capital of Sanaa and the northern province of Saada, the rebels’ stronghold on the border with Saudi Arabia, with more airstrikes reported in those areas early Sunday. Images online showed plumes of black smoke over the area of the Sanaa airport complex, which includes a sprawling military facility. The Houthis also reported airstrikes early Sunday on the provinces of Hodeida, Bayda, and Marib.

The Houthi-run Health Ministry said early Sunday that the death toll had climbed to 31, including women and children. Anees al-Asbahi, a spokesperson for the ministry, said Sunday that another 101 people were wounded.

A U.S. official said this was the beginning of air strikes on Houthi targets that are expected to continue. The official spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the press.

Nasruddin Amer, deputy head of the Houthi media office, said the airstrikes won’t deter them and they would retaliate against the U.S. “Sanaa will remain Gaza’s shield and support and will not abandon it no matter the challenges,” he added on social media.

Another spokesman, Mohamed Abdulsalam, on X, called Trump’s claims that the Houthis threaten international shipping routes “false and misleading.”

The airstrikes come a few days after the Houthis said they would resume attacks on Israeli vessels sailing off Yemen in response to Israel’s latest blockade on Gaza. They described the warning as affecting the Red Sea, the Gulf of Aden, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait and the Arabian Sea.

There have been no Houthi attacks reported since then.

Earlier this month, Israel halted all aid coming into Gaza and warned of “additional consequences” for Hamas if their fragile ceasefire in the war isn’t extended as negotiations continue over starting a second phase.

The Houthis had targeted over 100 merchant vessels with missiles and drones, sinking two vessels and killing four sailors, during their campaign targeting military and civilian ships between the start of the war between Israel and Hamas in late 2023 and January of this year, when this ceasefire in Gaza took effect.

The attacks raised the Houthis’ profile as they faced economic and other problems at home amid Yemen’s decade-long stalemated war that’s torn apart the Arab world’s poorest nation.

The Houthi media office said the U.S. strikes hit a residential neighborhood in Sanaa’s northern district of Shouab. Residents said at least four airstrikes rocked the Eastern Geraf neighborhood there, terrifying women and children.

“The explosions were very strong,” said Abdallah al-Alffi. “It was like an earthquake.”

The Eastern Geraf is home to Houthi-held military facilities and a headquarters for the rebels' political bureau, located in a densely populated area.

The Houthis reported fresh strikes on the southwestern Dhamar province late Saturday. They said the strikes hit the outskirts of the provincial capital, also named Dhamar, and the district of Abs.

The United States, Israel and Britain have previously hit Houthi-held areas in Yemen. Israel’s military declined to comment.

However, Saturday's operation was conducted solely by the U.S., according to a U.S. official. It was the first strike on the Yemen-based Houthis under the second Trump administration.

Such broad-based missile strikes against the Houthis were carried out multiple times by the Biden administration in response to frequent attacks by the Houthis against commercial and military vessels in the region.

The USS Harry S. Truman carrier strike group, which includes the carrier, three Navy destroyers and one cruiser, are in the Red Sea and were part of Saturday's mission. The USS Georgia cruise missile submarine has also been operating in the region.

Trump announced the strikes as he spent the day at his Trump International Golf Club in West Palm Beach, Florida.

“These relentless assaults have cost the U.S. and World Economy many BILLIONS of Dollars while, at the same time, putting innocent lives at risk,” Trump said.

Baldor reported from Washington and Magdy reported from Cairo. AP White House Correspondent Zeke Miller and AP writer Tara Copp in Washington contributed to this report.

Yemenis clean debris in front of their shops after a U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Yemenis clean debris in front of their shops after a U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

Yemenis clean debris in front of their shops after a U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Sunday, March 16, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)

This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)

This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)

This image taken from video provided by the U.S. Navy shows an aircraft launching from a carrier in an undisclosed location before airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (U.S. Navy via AP)

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman)

President Donald Trump addresses a joint session of Congress at the Capitol in Washington, Tuesday, March 4, 2025. (Win McNamee/Pool Photo via AP)

Smoke rises from a location reportedly struck by U.S. airstrikes in Sanaa, Yemen, Saturday, March 15, 2025. (AP Photo/Osamah Abdulrahman