Team USA Luge

Luge is one of the fastest and most thrilling sliding sports in the Winter Olympics. Athletes race down an icy track on a small sled, feet first, reaching speeds of up to 90 mph while navigating sharp turns and steep drops. Competitors lie on their backs and steer using subtle movements of their legs and shoulders, making precision and control crucial in this high-speed sport.

Luge at the Olympics made its debut at the Olympic Winter Games Innsbruck 1964, bringing a new dimension of speed and precision to the program. Before its inclusion, other sliding sports such as bobsled had already been part of the Olympic Winter Games. Luge’s introduction was driven by its popularity in European winter sports communities and the desire to expand the range of sliding disciplines in the Olympics.

Team USA first competed in luge at the Olympics at Innsbruck 1964. Over the years, the U.S. has steadily built its reputation in the sport, earning historic medals in singles and doubles events. Erin Hamlin’s breakthrough bronze medal at the Olympic Winter Games Sochi 2014 marked the first-ever Olympic singles luge medal for the United States.

Luge in the Olympics consists of several events, each showcasing the skill and speed of athletes in different formats. The competition includes men’s singles, women’s singles, doubles and the team relay event. In singles events, each athlete makes four runs over two days, with the combined time determining the winner. Doubles teams, which can be composed of any gender pairing, compete in two runs. The team relay features one men’s singles slider, one women’s singles slider and a doubles team from each nation, with each sled triggering a timing pad at the finish to allow the next athlete to begin their run.

Follow along the luge athletes' road to the Olympic Winter Games Milano Cortina 2026.

Luge sleds are highly specialized, featuring aerodynamic designs to maximize speed and stability. Made from lightweight materials such as fiberglass and steel, the sled has curved runners that allow precise steering through body movements. Athletes also wear aerodynamic suits, gloves with sharp spikes for gripping the ice at the start and helmets with visors for visibility and protection.

Olympic luge tracks are constructed with steep drops, sharp turns and straightaways that challenge athletes’ control and skill. Tracks must meet strict regulations set by the FIL, ensuring safety while still providing the high-speed thrills that define the sport. Each track has multiple timing intervals, allowing for split-second comparisons of competitors’ performances.