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Ridgefield Teen Makes History With World Cup Luge Win

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. -- Ridgefield teenager Tucker West, who became the youngest athlete to make the U.S. Olympic luge team last winter, is off to a fast start for the new season.

Ridgefield's Tucker West celebrates after a run in the luge during a race last week in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Ridgefield's Tucker West celebrates after a run in the luge during a race last week in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Photo Credit: Nancie Battaglia/Via Facebook -- Team Tucker
Fans cheer as Tucker West slides past them at Lake Placid.

Fans cheer as Tucker West slides past them at Lake Placid.

Photo Credit: Facebook/Team Tucker
Tucker West (center) of Ridgefield celebrates after his World Cup win last week in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Tucker West (center) of Ridgefield celebrates after his World Cup win last week in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Photo Credit: Nancie Battaglia/Via Facebook -- Team Tucker
Tucker West concentrates during his luge run in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Tucker West concentrates during his luge run in Lake Placid, N.Y.

Photo Credit: Nancie Battaglia/Via Facebook -- Team Tucker
Tucker West's family watches anxiously during his race.

Tucker West's family watches anxiously during his race.

Photo Credit: Via Twitter/Tucker West

West became the first American to win a singles race in 17 years last week when he raced to victory in a World Cup meet on his home track in Lake Placid, N.Y. West, 19, also became the youngest World Cup singles winner in team history.

He put down the fastest two times of the day in the race. He won by .77 seconds over Wolfgand Kindl of Austria.

Wendel Suckow won a singles race for the U.S. in February 1997, the most recent win by a U.S. athlete.

West bounced back after failing to make the Nations Cup cut just a week earlier.

“It’s been a frustrating month,’’ West told USLuge.org. “I haven’t had a clean run in any training session. So to have this is a huge confidence boost and hopefully the tide is turning.

“If felt good on my home track,’’ he added. “I had my parents and family and friends watching. It came together and the stars aligned.”

West made the U.S. Olympic team that competed in Sochi, Russia, in February. He finished 22nd overall and was a hit on the Internet and the "Today" show.

Click here for the full story on USALuge.org about his victory last week.

 

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