USA relay squad fifth in 2026 Olympic test event, Gustafson 14th in men’s singles as Olympic qualification continues

CORTINA d’AMPEZZO, Italy— The brand-new Cortina Sliding Center, named in honor of bobsled legend Eugenio Monti, ended day two of hosting a luge Olympic test event with the team relay and men’s singles races. The United States placed fifth in the team relay, while Jonny Gustafson was the top finishing American man in 14th. 

Team Relay 

The USA team featured Ashley Farquharson (Park City, Utah), the men’s duo of Marcus Mueller (Brookfield, Wisc.)/Ansel Haugsjaa (Framingham, Mass.), Gustafson (Massena, N.Y.) and the women’s duo of Chevonne Forgan (Chelmsford, Mass.)/Sophia Kirkby (Ray Brook, N.Y.) Their combined time was three minutes, 43.527 seconds.  

Austria won the event in 3:42.536, with Germany second in 3:42.822. The Italian home team took third place in 3:43.004.  

Men’s Singles 

2022 Olympian Gustafson was the top finishing U.S. athlete. He was 14th in 1:47.679. Two-time Junior World Championship medalist Matt Greiner (Park City, Utah) was 16th in 1:47.798, a career best at the World Cup level. Hunter Harris (East Fairfield, Vt.) was 18th in 1:47.990.  

Three-time Olympian Tucker West (Lake Placid, N.Y.) has been battling an injury which impacted the start of his first run. He placed 21st with a single run time of 54.091, as only the top 20 sleds advanced to the second heat.  

Jonas Mueller of Austria won the race in 1:46.364, with Latvia’s Kristers Aparjods second in 1:46.537 and Wolfgang Kindl of Austria third in 1:46.543.   

Olympic qualification and Team USA nomination process 

The World Cup season kicks off next weekend in Winterberg, Germany. Team USA will skip this event, however, opting instead to train in Lake Placid, as the Winterberg race is not a part of the five-race Olympic qualification process.  

Nations earn Olympic spots by earning points through results of the Cortina test event and four pre-Olympic World Cup races. To learn more about the quota system for nations, visit https://www.fil-luge.org/cdn/uploads/milano-cortina-2026-qualification-system-for-luge-v3.pdf  

Team USA athletes earn a nomination to the 2026 Olympic Team based on results in the five FIL Olympic qualifying events. An “A tier” result (a top five finish in a full field, as defined by World Cup rules), or two “B tier” results (two results in the top 50% of a full field, as defined by World Cup rules) can earn an Olympic nomination. If an athlete does not earn an “A tier” or “B tier,” then points earned in the five races will be used. For the complete procedure, visit https://www.usaluge.org/selection-processes    

With the first of five qualification races complete, yesterday’s silver medalists Mueller/Haugsjaa and Ashley Farquharson, who placed fourth yesterday, have earned an “A tier” result. Gustafson earned a “B tier” result today. Forgan/Kirkby, Dana Kellogg (Chesterfield, Mass.)/Frank Ike (Lititz, Pa.) and Summer Britcher (Glen Rock, Pa), have also have one “B tier” result yesterday.

On or about January 12, 2026, USA Luge will formally announce its list of nominees to the U.S. Olympic & Paralympic Committee, who will then announce those athletes as members of the 2026 Olympic squad.