U.S. Aims to Break German Luge Dominance

With luge competition set to begin at the Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, the United States luge team arrives at the Milano‑Cortina Winter Olympics determined to challenge Germany’s long‑standing supremacy in the sport.

German athletes have historically dominated Olympic luge, winning an overwhelming majority of medals since the sport’s Olympic debut in 1964 (including 38 golds) while the U.S. has captured just six medals overall, none of them gold.

Germany enters the Games with several proven medal contenders, including three‑time Olympic gold medallist Felix Loch and doubles specialists Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt, who have won multiple Olympic titles and are favourites again in Cortina.

But American sliders such as four‑time Olympian Summer Britcher (coming into the Olympics with strong World Cup results) offer hope that the U.S. might finally crack Germany’s stranglehold.

Track & Timing

The luge events will span multiple days, with men’s and women’s singles runs followed by doubles and the team relay, all part of a four‑run format that combines times across heats to determine medals. The competition starts one day after the official Opening Ceremony at Milan’s San Siro Stadium, as the Games officially run through February 22, 2026.

The Cortina track itself has been described as technically demanding in early practice runs, with athletes adjusting to curves and speed as they fine‑tune sledge setups ahead of racing.