BANGOR, Maine — Julia Clukey was in the Queen City on Monday morning, bringing her “Julia Inspires” speaking tour to more than 400 students at John Bapst Memorial High School.
The Augusta resident and member of the 2010 U.S. Olympic luge team not only delivered a motivational message encouraging the students to pursue their dreams, she got some news related to her own career pursuits.
Clukey was named to USA Luge’s national “C” luge team, helping keep in place her hopes to qualify for the 2018 Winter Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea.
Selection to the national “C” team means USA Luge believes Clukey has potential to earn a World Cup or Olympic berth, but after not competing on the World Cup circuit last winter, she needs to achieve certain standards in the sport in order to advance up the U.S. team ladder.
Clukey will receive partial funding to support her efforts as part of the “C” national team from USA Luge and will be required to participate in all of the organization’s upcoming senior camps.
Clukey, who finished 17th in women’s singles at the 2010 Winter Games in Vancouver, British Columbia, has a World Cup silver medal to her credit in February 2013 and missed making the U.S. team for the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia, by 13 thousandths of a second at the final qualifying event.
More recently, Clukey earned her degree in engineering technology and electronics from DeVry University earlier this year.
The 30-year-old Clukey is set to begin training for her 19th season of luge.
USA Luge announced its national team that will participate in the 2016-17 World Cup and World Championship season, a squad that captured a USA Luge-record 18 World Cup medals last winter and is led by members of the national “A” team.
The “A” group is led by Erin Hamlin, 2014 Olympic bronze medalist and 2009 world champion; Chris Mazdzer, the third-ranked man in the final 2015-16 World Cup standings; Summer Britcher, who tied for the most tour victories last season with three; the rising Tucker West, who collected two World Cup medals and was the U23 World Champion; and Emily Sweeney, a World Cup silver medalist.
Although USA Luge’s 2016-17 schedule has not been formalized, the season will be highlighted by the World Championships in Igls, Austria. Also, sleds are anticipated to hit the ice on the new 2018 Olympic track in South Korea.
While in Bangor, Clukey also honored John Bapst student Abigail Bowman with the Julia Clukey Courage Award.
Clukey presents the award to a student at each stop on her speaking tour of high schools and middle schools around the state. Bowman was recognized for persevering through difficult times in her personal life while maintaining a high grade-point average and positive attitude.
