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,

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.

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

Then came Burper, a tall, lean woman who just happened to be racing on a yellow sled, which isn't exactly a common color in luge. Britcher is tall, lean and, you guessed it, races on a yellow sled. The everyday SNL viewer probably didn't make the connection. Those who know Britcher got it almost immediately.

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.

MUSKEGON, MI - On top of a sand dune near the Lake Michigan shoreline sits one of only four luge tracks in the United States. Built in 1984, the Muskegon Luge Adventure Sports Park was created to help revive the former lumber town as part of a community campaign.

By Mitch Phillips CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy, Feb 5 (Reuters) - Most countries arrive at the Olympics dreaming of, maybe hoping for, medals but when it comes to Germany and luge the question is more about which of their athletes will take gold and who will have to settle for a lower place on the podium.