Elīna Ieva Bota is making waves in the luge competition with an impressive performance, currently sitting in third place after completing her first two runs. In her first attempt, she finished fifth, just 0.17 seconds behind the bronze medal position, showcasing her potential for a podium finish. During her second run, Bota excelled, recording the third-best time of the day which allowed her to leapfrog ahead of both local athlete Verēna Hofer and American competitor Ashley Farkharson.

The lead in the race is held by German athletes Julia Taubica and Merle Freebele, who are in a tight contest separated by a mere 0.061 seconds. Bota is trailing the leader by 0.495 seconds and has a slight lead of six hundredths of a second over her closest competitor. The competition is fierce as the athletes prepare for the decisive runs, which will take place on Tuesday at 18:00 and 19:25 Latvian time, adding to the excitement as medal positions hang in the balance.

Meanwhile, Kendija Aparjode had a rocky start to her third Olympic Games, making significant mistakes that placed her in 24th position after her first run. However, showing resilience, she bounced back in her second attempt, delivering a much stronger performance that improved her standing to 19th place, with her second run marking the eighth best time of the day. This development speaks to the unpredictable nature of competition at the Olympics, where athletes must persevere through pressure and setbacks to succeed.