Luge begins competition at Milan Cortina 2026 on Saturday, Feb. 7, with the men's singles event hitting the track at 11 a.m. ET.

Jonathan Gustafson talks about discovering his love for luge at 11 as he prepares to represent Team USA at the 2026 Milano Cortina Winter Olympics.

At a glance, the common ground between the motorsports realm of NASCAR and the winter sport of luge should seem small. Then again, after a season-opening exhibition race for the stock-car crowd that faced snow and ice this past week,

Chevonne Forgan of Chelmsford is competing in her first Olympics, while her sport, women's doubles luge, is also making its Olympics debut.

Luge made its Olympic debut in 1964, where athletes race feet first on a sled at speeds exceeding 80 miles per hour. Competitors complete four runs over two days and their cumulative times determine their rankings, with gold awarded for the lowest total time.

Luge Olympian Summer Britcher, a Susquehannock High School graduate, is one of seven Pennsylvanians competing for Team USA at the Milano Cortina Olympics. She returns after a brief "semi-retirement."

Summer Britcher, a USA Luge veteran, found herself the subject of a "Saturday Night Live" skit. The skit featured a character named Gertie Burper, a luge athlete with a striking resemblance to Britcher.

The two-time medalist and former Team USA flag bearer will lead athletes competing Feb. 7-12 at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.