In a historic weekend for the sport of luge, the United States team made a resounding statement at the Lillehammer World Cup in Norway. The American contingent, led by standout Emily Sweeney and the dynamic duo of Chevonne Forgan and Sophie Kirkby, racked up an impressive four medals across the event’s debut mixed competitions and traditional races.
The highlight of the weekend came in the inaugural World Cup mixed events, where the U.S. showcased its depth and versatility. In the mixed singles race, Sweeney teamed up with Jonny Gustafson to claim a hard-fought silver medal, narrowly edged out by the German powerhouse pairing of Max Langenhan and Julia Taubitz.
“I feel great,” Sweeney gushed after the race. “It was so much fun. I’m really enjoying this race format.” Her teammate Gustafson was quick to praise Sweeney’s contribution, quipping, “Emily put the backpack on for this race, and I just hopped in there. She carried us to second place, and it was awesome.”
Forgan and Kirkby Make Their Mark
Not to be outdone, the rising star tandem of Chevonne Forgan and Sophie Kirkby etched their names into the history books by clinching bronze in the groundbreaking mixed doubles event. Forgan and Kirkby joined forces with the men’s sled of Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa to navigate the treacherous Lillehammer course with precision and poise.
“We are so excited! This race was so much fun. We’re so happy to be racing with our newest teammates,” Forgan exclaimed with infectious enthusiasm after the momentous result.
– Chevonne Forgan
Building on Solo Success
The mixed event triumphs built upon a foundation of individual success laid earlier in the weekend. On Saturday, Forgan and Kirkby struck gold in the women’s doubles event, while Sweeney snagged a silver in the women’s singles competition. This marks the first time the U.S. has won four medals in a single World Cup weekend on foreign soil since a December 2015 triumph in Calgary.
The American men also had a strong showing in Lillehammer, with Gustafson leading the charge with a fifth-place result in the singles event won by Germany’s Max Langenhan. While not quite cracking the podium, the performance bodes well for the U.S. men’s program as they build toward the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.
A New Era for Luge
The successful introduction of the mixed events in Lillehammer signals a potential watershed moment for the sport of luge. By showcasing the skills of both male and female athletes in collaborative formats, the International Luge Federation (FIL) hopes to broaden the appeal of the high-speed sliding discipline and promote greater gender equity.
“These new mixed events are a game-changer for our sport. They create exciting new dynamics and bring our men’s and women’s programs closer together. We couldn’t be more thrilled with how our team performed this weekend in making some luge history!”
– USA Luge High Performance Director
As the World Cup circuit moves on to Igls, Austria next weekend, the American luge squad will look to carry the momentum from their Norwegian success. With the 2026 Winter Games in Italy looming on the horizon, the U.S. program appears poised to contend for medals on the sport’s biggest stage.
The Road Ahead
For Sweeney, Forgan, Kirkby, and their teammates, the focus now shifts to building upon this breakthrough performance. “We’ve shown that we can compete with the best in the world, in both the traditional races and the new mixed events,” Sweeney noted. “Now it’s about consistency, refinement, and peaking at the right times. We’ve got a great team behind us, and we’re excited for what the future holds.”
As the luge world turns its attention to Austria, the U.S. contingent will undoubtedly be the talk of the town. With history made and confidence surging, the Americans appear ready to blaze a path to the podium for years to come.
- USA Luge looks to carry Lillehammer momentum into Igls World Cup next weekend
- Mixed event success a potential game-changer for gender equity in luge
- Emily Sweeney and Jonny Gustafson claim silver in thrilling mixed singles debut
- Forgan/Kirkby and Mueller/Haugsjaa nab historic mixed doubles bronze for U.S.
