Ridgefield Luger Tucker West Named Olympic Athlete Of The Month

RIDGEFIELD, Conn. – Ridgefield's Tucker West was named the co-winner of the Athlete of the Month award Friday from the United States Olympic Committee.

Tucker West of Ridgefield was named the Athlete of the Month by the United States Olympic Committee.
Photo Credit: *Nancie Battaglia/Via Facebook -- Team Tucker*

Tom Renner

01/19/2015 4:00 a.m.

Ridgefield, a luger, shared the award with Elana Meyers Taylor, who competes in bobsled.

West opened the 2014-15 World Cup season by earning two podium finishes in December, highlighted by his first world cup victory on Dec. 5 in Lake Placid, N.Y.

With the win, he became the youngest American man – and the first in 17 years – to win a FIL World Cup singles race. The following weekend, he added a silver medal in the men’s sprint event at the FIBT World Cup in Calgary, Alberta.

West finished 22nd overall in the men's luge at the Winter Olympics in Sochi last winter, becoming an Internet and television sensation in the process.

West has been a member of the U.S. National team since 2010. He attends Union College in New York. He learned the sport in a luge run built by his father at their home in Ridgefield. Last weekend, the West's invited people to try out the homemade luge run for themselves.

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