40 Days Until The Winter Olympics: USA Luge Historic Gold for Mueller and Haugsjaa

For the young American duo of Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa, the familiarity of Mount Van Hoevenberg provided the perfect backdrop for the biggest moment of their careers. Prior to the Christmas holidays, racing in front of a roaring home crowd, Mueller and Haugsjaa captured their first-ever World Cup gold medal in men’s doubles.  

The victory wasn’t just a personal milestone, it marked a significant statement for USA Luge as the program builds momentum toward the 2026 Winter Games.

Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa: Moving USA to Medal Contention in Luge 

“First individual medal in the World Cup, first win in front of the home crowd, it just couldn’t get any better, it’s incredible!” Ansel Haugsjaa said. “You’re really trying to focus as much as you can on the job you have, but in between the first and second run in [first] position, it’s definitely gets a little harder so it’s just reminding yourself of what you have to do.” 

The duo managed to hold their nerve against a field stacked with European powerhouses. Latvia’s Martins Bots and Roberts Plume finished second, trailing by just 0.057 seconds, while Austria’s Yannick Mueller and Armin Frauscher took third.

“I feel amazing and to do this at home, there’s just nothing like it, it’s super awesome! I was trying not to think a lot about the second run and just think about the one job we have of sliding. Other than that, I normally feel pretty sick between runs!” Marcus Mueller said on the publication USA Luge. 

The win also secured the pair the title of American-Pacific Champions, adding another accolade to a breakout weekend.

In the men’s singles competition, the U.S. sliders fought hard against German dominance. Germany’s Felix Loch secured his 54th career victory, but the Americans managed to place two sleds in the top 10. Jonny Gustafson finished eighth, while veteran Tucker West took ninth.

Emotional Bronze for U.S. Women in Doubles

While Austria’s Selina Egle and Lara Kipp dominated the field to take gold and set a new track record, the biggest cheers of the day were reserved for the American team of Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby.

Forgan and Kirkby rallied from fourth place after the first heat to seize the bronze medal with a total time of 1:29.119. For Kirkby, the result carried a weight far heavier than the medal around her neck. Lake Placid was the site of the last race her late father attended two years ago, making the podium finish deeply personal.

“As you can see, we have the support and this crowd to cheer us on here on our home track in Lake Placid, N.Y. I’m really proud of the bronze medal we got today, and it’s our Olympic qualifier, the third one, so this counts!” Kirkby said.  

The U.S. women’s program showed incredible depth throughout the weekend. In women’s singles, the Americans nearly swept the podium behind winner Julia Taubitz of Germany. Ashley Farquharson took silver, Summer Britcher claimed bronze, and Emily Sweeney finished a heartbreaking fourth, missing the podium by a mere fraction.

“It feels great to be racing at my second home track and feels even better that I was able to be so fast. I’m really looking forward to a little Christmas break and then some more medals!” Farquharson said.  

USA Luge Hopefuls for the 2026 Olympics

The Lake Placid World Cup served as a critical measuring stick for athletes eyeing the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina. The qualification process for Team USA is rigorous, relying on “A-tier” results (top-five finishes) and “B-tier” results (top 50% of the field).

Following the high-stakes racing in New York, the Olympic picture is beginning to come into focus. Based on the tiered qualification system outlined by USA Luge, here are the athletes currently making a strong case for nomination:

• Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa: The pair has now earned a second “A-tier” result following their gold medal performance in Lake Placid. They previously earned an “A-tier” result at the Cortina test event.
• Chevonne Forgan and Sophia Kirkby: With their bronze medal finish, this duo has earned an “A tier” result. They also hold two “B tier” results from races in Cortina and Park City.
• Zack DiGregorio and Sean Hollander: This doubles team currently holds one “A-tier” result thanks to a silver medal finish in Park City earlier in the season.
• Jonny Gustafson: In men’s singles, Gustafson earned his second “B tier” result in Lake Placid, adding to his previous result in Cortina.
• Tucker West: The veteran slider earned a “B tier” result with his top-10 finish on home ice.