Facing competition from the likes of compatriots Toni Eggert and Sascha Benecken, the reigning world champions, Wendl and Arlt emerged victorious and topped the podium in a combined 1min 31.697sec.

The German pair had clocked a track record of 45.820 in their opening run, giving them a narrow 0.071 advantage over nearest challengers Peter Penz and Georg Fischler of Austria.

They ended up winning by an even bigger margin as Penz and Fischler took silver in 1:31.785, 0.088 adrift of the victorious Germans.

Eggert and Benecken, who arrived at Pyeongchang 2018 as the favourites having recently wrapped up the overall World Cup title, were not at their best and were forced to settle for bronze in a combined 1:31.987.

"I can't describe the words that I'm feeling, what the feeling is inside," said Arlt.

"We're again Olympic champions and so happy, it's just amazing, indescribable."

The triumph handed Wendl and Arlt their second straight Olympic crown and extended their nation's gold medal tally to seven after five days of competition here.

It also saw them become only the third pairing to defend an Olympic doubles gold medal.

Felix Loch is the only German slider to have faltered at the Games so far as a huge error in his second run on Sunday (February 11) saw him finish fifth.

The German charge was resurrected by Natalie Geisenberger in the women's competition yesterday as she retained her women's singles crown in style.

Germany will have the chance to make it three out of four when the team relay event brings the luge programme at Pyeongchang 2018 to a close tomorrow.