Emily Sweeney

Name: Emily Sweeney

Date of Birth: March 16, 1993

School:

“It’s a ride. It’s just fun. Some people compare it to a rollercoaster. There’s nothing like it. When you get everything right and it just flows, it’s the best feeling. It’s just you on a sled.” 

That’s how Emily Sweeney, a member of the USA Junior National Luge Team, describes flying down a luge track. During the winter season, Emily trains and competes in Lake Placid, N.Y., where she also attends the National Sports Academy to keep up with her studies.  

The World Cup season has ended but she is currently training for nationals, which will take place over the coming weekends. In a few weeks, she will return to her family home in Suffield to finish up her senior year at Suffield High School.

It’s a lot of work to train and go to school so Emily works hard to keep up. Emily also plays lacrosse at Suffield High and looks forward to getting home and playing with the team.

Accomplishment: “Last year was a really good year for me competing," Emily said. "The thing I’m most proud of in my Luge career is being the Olympic alternate last year. I just missed it by one spot.  It’s not a result but that’s the thing I’m most proud of.”

Emily’s older sister Megan Sweeney, 24, competed in luge in Vancouver, British Columbia in last year’s Winter Olympics. Emily and her whole family went to the Olympics to cheer on Megan.

“It was a crazy experience just to be in that atmosphere," Emily said. "It was a lot of fun.”

Emily’s long-term goal has always been to go to the Olympics.

“That’s the ultimate goal," she said. "After last year, being so close and then going to watch the games and seeing what it could be, it’s another motivation. I have my short-term goals too. This year I want to defend my Junior National champion title.  That would be great."

The next Olympic Games are in Sochi, Russia, on the Black Sea. 

“I’ve never been to Russia so that would be an experience,” she said.

Key to Awesomeness: Emily knows getting to the Olympics will take hard work but it also takes strong support to reach her goals.

“I think it’s definitely the support from my family and friends," she said. "It is a lot to keep together but if it wasn’t for them I definitely wouldn’t be able to do it. My parents are great. That helps out a ton."

For any senior at Suffield High, deciding what to do after graduation is a big step. Emily also is considering how long she wants to continue to compete in luge.

“I’m definitely going to go to college and I’m going to get a degree. But, right now, the number one priority is going to be luge," she said. "I’ll be taking online courses while I travel. It will be a lighter load then a full-time student but I want to get started on getting credit.”

Emily Sweeney has accomplished a great deal in her sporting career. She has also learned some great life lessons.

“It sounds really cliché but luge has taught me that anything is possible," she said. "They always tell you that when you are younger that you can be anything that you want to be. It kind of goes in one ear and out the other but actually you should take it to heart because it’s true. If you’re willing to put forth the effort and you’re willing to work for something, anything can happen.”