'Minister for Bobsleigh' rules roost

Dubbed the 'Minister for Bobsleigh' after a brief foray into politics back home in Siberia, Alexander Zubkov proved ditching a smart suit for figure-hugging lycra was the right move by winning two-man gold in Sochi on Monday.

The Russian dominated the two-man event over the two days of competition at the Sochi Games to win his first Olympic gold at the age of 39.

Zubkov's long road to Olympic champion at his fifth Games - he competed in luge in 1998 before winning bobsled medals in 2006 (silver) and bronze four years ago - came to fruition on a track he knows best of all.