As the Winter Olympics approach, athletes from around the world are preparing to compete on the Eugenio Monti Olympic Track in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. Among the most thrilling events are luge, bobsled, and skeleton, where competitors reach astonishing speeds of over 90 mph. These high-stakes sliding sports demand not only speed but also precision, control, and extraordinary athleticism. With the games just weeks away, here are the standout local athletes and top contenders from Team USA to keep an eye on in these exhilarating events. Luge, a sport that involves racing feet-first and face-up on a small sled, is one of the most technically challenging disciplines in the Winter Games. Athletes must navigate steep curves and long straights, making split-second adjustments with body weight to steer their sleds. The Olympic events include men’s singles, women’s singles, doubles, and a team relay. Notably, Ashley Farquharson from Park City is a rising star in this arena. Farquharson’s journey began in Park City, where she was introduced to luge through the Youth Sports Alliance’s Get Out & Play program. "I was a busybody when I was a kid," Farquharson recalled, adding that her first experience on the Utah Olympic Park track was unforgettable. This past December, she earned her first World Cup singles medal at the Esperbacher World Cup, followed by a silver medal in Lake Placid, solidifying her status as one of Team USA’s best hopes for a medal in women's luge. In the 2022 Beijing Olympics, she finished 12th in singles and contributed to a seventh-place finish in the team relay. Farquharson is known for her unique pre-race ritual of applying glitter, which she shares with her teammates. "A lot of people think that as a female athlete you’re not allowed to be girly," she said, emphasizing the importance of maintaining individuality in her sport. When she’s not training, the 26-year-old enjoys baking, Zumba, and walking her two chihuahuas while pursuing a business degree through Purdue Global. In addition to Farquharson, the U.S. luge team boasts other formidable competitors. Three-time Olympian Summer Britcher of Glen Rock, Pennsylvania, leads the World Cup standings this season after securing two wins. She holds the record for the most World Cup singles victories by a U.S. athlete, making her a significant medal contender in Cortina. Zachary DiGregorio from Medway, Massachusetts, who finished seventh in the mixed team relay at the 2022 Games, is another name to watch. He, along with his teammate Sean Hollander, recently captured the first U.S. men’s doubles World Cup victory since 2005. Switching gears to bobsledding, this sport involves racing heavy, aerodynamic sleds down an ice track, reaching speeds nearly touching 95 mph. Events include two-man, four-man, two-woman, and the solo monobob event that debuted in Beijing 2022. Kaysha Love, a standout in monobob, enters the Olympics as the defending world champion. Love transitioned from gymnastics and sprinting to bobsledding in 2020 and made her Olympic debut in 2022, where she finished seventh in the two-woman event. Her trajectory in the sport has been remarkable, marked by rapid success, including her first World Cup win as a monobob pilot in 2023. Love’s powerful push times and growing skills as a pilot have led her to achieve 13 career World Cup podiums. "My family, faith, and mentors keep me grounded as I navigate this rapid ascent," she noted. Another seasoned competitor is Kaillie Humphries from Carlsbad, California, a four-time Olympic medalist and one of the most decorated bobsledders. Even at age 40, Humphries remains a formidable presence in the sport, having won gold in monobob at the 2022 Olympics and a world title in 2021. Elana Meyers Taylor, a four-time Olympian, is another athlete to watch. She has medaled at every Olympic Games she has entered, earning five medals across different events. In the skeleton event, athletes race headfirst on small sleds, steering using their body weight. One athlete to watch is Mystique Ro from Nokesville, Virginia, a former multi-event track and field competitor who has made a notable impact in skeleton. Ro made her World Cup debut in 2023 and achieved significant success, including a World Cup victory and a silver medal at the 2025 World Championships. Her journey has been particularly inspiring, as she broke barriers for American women in the sport. Austin Florian, who transitioned from alpine skiing to skeleton, and Darryl Payne Jr., a former collegiate sprinter, are also making waves in the skeleton community. Payne is on track to potentially become the first Black man to represent the U.S. in Olympic skeleton, a significant milestone for the sport. As the Olympic games draw near, the competition in luge, bobsled, and skeleton promises to be fierce. With a mix of seasoned veterans and burgeoning talents, Team USA is poised to showcase the thrilling excitement of these sliding sports. Fans can expect to see not only athletic prowess but also inspiring stories of dedication and resilience as these athletes chase Olympic glory in Cortina.