Erin Hamlin is set to become the second U.S. female luger to compete in four Olympics, which will be the last competition of her career in PyeongChang in February.
The 2014 Olympic bronze medalist (first Olympic medal for a U.S. singles slider) clinched her spot with a fourth-place finish in a World Cup event in Winterberg, Germany, on Sunday.
“Every Olympic year is a little bit more added stress,” Hamlin said. “It’s more of a relief than when I was younger and I made it unexpectedly.”
She will likely be joined on the U.S. Olympic team by Sochi teammate Summer Britcher and Emily Sweeney.
Britcher made her first World Cup podium on a European track with a third-place finish in Winterberg on Sunday.
Later Sunday, Sweeney and Britcher went one-two in the sprint race (a non-Olympic event) in Winterberg.
It marked Sweeney’s first World Cup win and the first time ever that the U.S. went one-two in a World Cup singles race in Europe.
The full U.S. Olympic luge team will be named in three weeks.
Hamlin’s place on the team was never in doubt.
She won gold and silver medals in the individual events at worlds last winter, when she said she hoped to make the PyeongChang Olympics the final competition of her decorated career.
“I can now officially, officially say that I’m done, done,” Hamlin said Sunday, repeating for emphasis. “Now that I’m qualified I can say that I’m out [after PyeongChang].”
She was also fourth in the World Cup standings for a second straight season, extending her streak to four straight years as the top American luger.
Hamlin, 31, was 12th and 16th at her first two Olympics in 2006 and 2010, while also winning the 2009 World Championship.
Cammy Myler was the first U.S. woman to compete in four Olympics in luge — in 1988, 1992, 1994 and 1998.
The Olympic favorites are Germans Natalie Geisenberger and Tatjana Huefner, the last two gold medalists.
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MORE: Full U.S. Olympic roster
