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In February 2006, USA Luge’s doubles team of Mark Grimmette (Muskegon, Mich.) and Brian Martin (Palo Alto, Calif.) will look to do something that no other U.S. winter Olympic male athlete has done before – win three consecutive medals in three consecutive Olympic Winter Games.  Figure skater, Beatrix Loughran, and speedskater, Bonnie Blair, are the only U.S. athletes to accomplish the feat. 

Loughran captured two silver and one bronze medal while competing in the 1924, 1928 and 1932 Winter Games, while Blair captured her back-to-back-to back Olympic medals while she skated to gold medal finishes in the women’s 500-meter event in the 1988, 1992 and 1994 Games.  Blair also raced to Olympic victories in both the 1992 and 1994 women’s 1,000-meter event, and a bronze medal result in the 1988 women’s 1,000-meter race.

In Torino, Italy, Grimmette and Martin could also become the first American Winter Olympians to race to bronze; silver and gold medal finishes in consecutive Winter Games.  In 1998, in Nagano, Japan, Grimmette and Martin captured USA Luge’s first Olympic medal when they raced to a bronze medal result.  Four years later, in Salt Lake City, Utah, the pair moved up one spot on the medal podium with a silver medal finish.  Grimmette also competed in the 1994 Winter Games with Jonathan Edwards, where he raced to a fourth place finish.

“When I first began sliding, I never could have imagined that I would be in this position,” said the 33-year-old Grimmette.  “My Olympic history shows fourth, third and second place Olympic finishes, so I don’t think that there’s any secret about what I’m going for next.”

First teamed together in Dec. 1996, Grimmette and Martin have not only excelled on the Olympic stage, but in each season leading up.  In addition to their two Olympic medals, the pair has become USA Luge’s all-time leaders in international medals won, with 59.  The duo has captured three overall World Cup crowns, 10 World Cup race victories, four world championship bronze medals, two overall Challenge Cup titles and the 2000 Winter Goodwill Games’ gold medal.

To date, in 2004-05, Grimmette and Martin have raced to two World Cup medals, bronze in Sigulda, Latvia and Gold in Calgary, Alberta.  Their victory on the 1988 Olympic course marked their 10th-career World Cup win together.  The duo has also led USA Luge to a pair of team event medals.

“Winning that first Olympic medal was the most exciting thing that ever happened to me, followed very, very closely by winning silver,” added the 31-year-old Martin.  “I’m very proud of what Mark and I have been able to accomplish, however, there are two things still missing – a world championship gold medal and Olympic gold.  I want to have both before I’m through.”

Follow the success of Grimmette and Martin as they race towards a possible third Olympic medal in Turin and their place in Olympic history!

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