Jonny Gustafson

Quick Facts

• Specialty: Men's singles luge
• Discovered luge at age 11 through USA Luge Slider Search program in Canton, New York
• 2015 graduate of Massena Central School; played varsity soccer as a freshman and sophomore
• Hobbies include video games, volleyball, esports and Dungeons & Dragons

Biographical Information

Jonny Gustafson's path to Olympic Luge began with a casual weekend activity that transformed into an elite athletic career. As the first Olympian from Massena since hockey player Tom Hurley competed in 1968, Gustafson takes pride in representing his hometown and inspiring the next generation of winter sports athletes from the region.

Born March 5, 1997, Gustafson discovered luge in the summer of 2008 when he was just 11 years old. His friend Brendan Broderick heard about a USA Luge Slider Search event at SUNY Canton and invited Gustafson to join him. Neither knew it was a tryout for the national development team. The coaches placed wheeled training sleds on a hill and conducted physical testing, and Gustafson impressed them with his natural ability. 

After graduating from Massena Central School in 2015, where he played varsity soccer for the Red Raiders as a freshman and sophomore, Gustafson moved to Lake Placid's Olympic Training Center full time to join the USA Luge Junior Team. He made his world cup debut during the 2016-17 season in Winterberg, Germany, and quickly progressed through the ranks. His best world cup finishes include seventh-place performances at Igls, Austria, in 2018 and Lake Placid in 2019, both in sprint races.

Gustafson made his Olympic debut at the Olympic Winter Games Beijing 2022, finishing 19th in men's singles. The experience was bittersweet as COVID-19 restrictions prevented his family from attending. Since Beijing, Gustafson has steadily climbed into luge's upper tier, earning podium finishes at both world cup and world championship events.

Throughout his career, Gustafson has maintained strong ties to his North Country roots. His parents watch his races every weekend and provide unwavering support. Gustafson keeps himself busy in the off-season with service jobs and hobbies, using this as an opportunity to decompress from the intensity of training. Away from the track, Gustafson is an avid esports player who enjoys video games, volleyball and introducing teammates to Dungeons & Dragons during downtime on the road.

Olympic Experience

• 1-time Olympian
  • Olympic Games Beijing 2022, 19th (Single - Men)

World Championships Experience

• Most recent: 2025 – 4th (Team - Relay - Mixed), 8th (Single - Men)
• Years of participation: Single - Men 2017, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2023, 2024, 2025; Team - Relay - Mixed 2019, 2025; Sprint - Single - Men 2024
• Top finish: 4th – 2025 (Team - Relay - Mixed)