Italy is celebrating after claiming their first gold medal of the Torino Games.

Salt Lake City 2002 champion, Armin Zoeggeler gave the home crowd what they were wanting – an Italian victory – in the men’s luge at Cesana Pariol (Day 3).

It was the fourth Olympics in a row where Zoeggeler had medalled – after also taking silver at Nagano 1998 and bronze at Lillehammer 1994.

Russia’s European champion Albert Demtschenko challenged for the gold medal, but Zoeggeler’s was spurred on by the strong local support.

Thirty-two-year-old Zoeggeler finished the four runs in a total time of 3.26.088, beating Demtschenko by just 0.11 seconds.

Latvia’s Martins Rubenis took bronze.