Olympic Luge Stories from Around the World – When Passion Knows No Borders
Berchtesgaden (FIL/03 Nov 2025) From the Caribbean to Central Asia, from the tropics to the mountains – the Olympic spirit of luge has inspired athletes from the most unexpected corners of the world. A new Olympic Channel video looks back at the remarkable Winter Olympic athletes from so-called “exotic” winter sport nations, who proved that courage, dedication, and determination can overcome any geographical limit.
Since Sarajevo 1984, competitors from nations such as Bermuda, Kazakhstan, Puerto Rico, Tonga, Venezuela, the Virgin Islands, Brazil, and Ireland have written their own unique chapters in Olympic luge history.
Among them is Werner Hoeger from Brazil, who proudly represented his country in three consecutive Olympic Winter Games (Nagano 1998, Salt Lake City 2002, Torino 2006). His pioneering efforts paved the way for future Brazilian lugers such as Renato Mizoguchi, who continued the nation’s Olympic journey in Salt Lake City 2002.
Bruno Banani from Tonga became a global sensation at the Sochi 2014 Olympic Winter Games, where he not only made history as his country’s first Winter Olympian in luge but also captured worldwide attention with his determination and good humor.
From Venezuela, Ilario Boccalandro competed in three Olympic Games from Nagano 1998 to Torino 2006, while Raul Muñiz carried the flag for Puerto Rico in Sarajevo 1984 and Calgary 1988, representing the Caribbean on the world’s fastest ice.
A story of endurance also belongs to the Virgin Islands team, led by Kyle Heikkila and Ann Abernathy, each with five Olympic appearances between 1988 and 2002 – a remarkable achievement that reflects their unwavering commitment to the sport.
From Asia, Shiva Keshavan of India stands out as one of the true legends of Olympic luge. With six Olympic appearances from Nagano 1998 to PyeongChang 2018, he became the face of luge in South Asia and an inspiration for athletes across the continent.
In recent years, Kazakhstan’s Yelizaveta Axenova (Sochi 2014, PyeongChang 2018) and her teammate Nikita Kopyrenko (Sochi 2014–PyeongChang 2018) have carried forward the torch of representation for Central Asia, showing that the sport continues to grow in new regions.
Meanwhile, Elsa Desmond, representing Ireland at the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics, wrote her own chapter of Olympic history – combining her career as a medical doctor with her dream of sliding for her country. And Elsa wants to try again. She is currently working hard to qualify for the Winter Olympics in Milano-Cortina 2026.
All of these athletes, from different continents and climates, share one common story: the Olympic dream. They remind us that luge is more than a sport – it is a symbol of courage, perseverance, and unity.
The FIL celebrates these extraordinary athletes and their achievements in the new video, available now on the Olympic Channel.
Watch the video and relive the inspiring moments of luge athletes from around the world who proved that the Olympic dream truly has no borders:
