Erin Hamlin competes in women's singles luge at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 on Feb. 12, 2018 in PyeongChang, South Korea.
Erin Hamlin has some work to do, but at the midway point of the women’s luge competition at the Olympic Winter Games PyeongChang 2018 she’s right in the mix for another medal.
After the opening two heats at the Olympic Sliding Centre on Monday night, Hamlin is sitting fifth overall. The final two runs are scheduled for Tuesday.
The 31-year-old four-time Olympic slider from Remsen, New York, became the first American luger to win an individual medal in the sport four years ago when she won a bronze in Sochi. Hamlin, who plans to retire after these Olympics, would like nothing more than to reach the podium once more time.
Hamlin, who was the flag bearer for Team USA at the Opening Ceremony last week, is sitting 0.236 seconds off the lead held by defending Olympic champion Natalie Geisenberger of Germany.
Geisenberger’s teammates, Dajana Eitberger and Tatjana Huefner, are in second and fourth place respectively, while Canadians Alex Gough and Kimberley McRae hold down third and sixth heading into Tuesday’s final two runs.
After a disappointing first run, Summer Britcher, of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, set a new track record of 46.132 seconds to move from 15th to ninth.
With five world cup individual wins to her credit, Britcher is the all-time wins leader in U.S. history for singles luge athletes. She’s looking to improve upon her 15th-place showing in Sochi.
Emily Sweeney, of Suffield, Connecticut, is sitting in 15th in her Olympic debut.
Laurence Heinen became a sportswriter after attending the 1988 Winter Games in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, Canada. He is a freelance contributor to TeamUSA.org on behalf of Red Line Editorial, Inc.
