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Park City • Erin Hamlin and Emily Sweeney stood between an American flag which each held high over their shoulders as friends, family and media members alike snapped photos at the finish dock of the Utah Olympic Park. Hamlin held a small bouquet of flowers in her right hand, as did Sweeney, an accompanying ceremonial gift for a World Cup podium.
They'd each been in that position before, on the other home track over 2,000 miles east in Lake Placid, N.Y. But Saturday was a first — a validating, jubilant first for the two U.S. luge sliders as their families wouldn't stop screaming and chanting in celebration.
For the first time in Park City, Hamlin — the bronze medalist from the 2014 Olympics in Sochi, Russia — won World Cup gold. Sweeney won her second-ever World Cup silver medal, and couldn't remove the smile on her face even if she wanted to. The Americans went 1-2 in Saturday's women's singles event in the Viessmann Luge World Cup at the Olympic Park, cementing their top result of the season on a frigid afternoon.
"To be on top with Erin 1-2," Sweeney said, "that's incredible. That's a great feeling."
Their moment was memorable, but it was also an adventure. Hamlin, the 13th slider out of 24 overall, had the top first slide of the day, hopping 11 spots to become the No. 1 seed entering the second run.
From the top of the hill, Hamlin watched as Sweeney's second run put her into first place with three athletes left. German Natalie Geisenberger couldn't top Sweeney's time, and when World Cup leader Tatjana Huefner crashed as the second-to-last racer, Sweeney went from fourth place to a guaranteed silver medal.
"When there's an American in the lead, it's easier, it takes a bit of the pressure off," Hamlin said. "I was going to be excited for her."
Hamlin's final run was as solid as her first, clean and precise enough to earn her second World Cup medal ever. At the finish dock, Sweeney saw a potential gold drop to silver, but the two teammates immediately embraced once Hamlin hopped off her sled. In the same World Cup stop last year, Sweeney missed out on a bronze by three-hundredths of a second.
"I just tried to do what I know how to do [today]," she said.
Their 1-2 finish on the podium doubled as a historic result, too. For the first time ever, World Cup luge was broadcast live on network television on Saturday on NBC. And it was Hamlin and Sweeney who gave viewers an extra reason to enjoy.
"Maybe it's a good omen," Hamlin said, "so maybe they should do it more."
American slider Summer Britcher finished fifth overall. After Hamlin and Sweeney had taken their turns hugging family members and posing for more photos, the three U.S. sliders mobbed Raychel Michele Germaine, a 21-year-old who finished ninth overall and qualified for the upcoming World Championships event.
Less than two hours after going 1-2 on the World Cup podium, Hamlin and Sweeney did it again, this time in the Sprint World Cup event.
Twitter: @chriskamrani —
Viessman Luge World Cup
Utah Olympic Park, Park City
Women's singles luge
1. Erin Hamlin, USA, 1:29.257
2. Emily Sweeney, USA, 1:29.384
3. Alex Gough, CAN, 1:29.584