Portland native Emily Sweeney made her way all the way back Saturday from her debilitating crash at the 2018 Winter Olympics to win a bronze medal at the luge world championships in Winterberg, Germany.
It was Sweeney’s first career world championship podium result and the 17th world championship medal in United States team history. The 25-year-old Sweeney was the 2013 junior world champion.
“I don’t know if it’s totally hit me yet,” Sweeney said on a media call shortly after the competition. “But I said going into this season, and going into this [Olympic] quad really, that knowing I did have an injury last year I wasn’t looking for overall medals. I wanted the big medals. I want worlds medals and I want an Olympic medal, so to actually have one is crazy. I’m quite happy with that.”
Sweeney, who attended school in Falmouth before moving with her family to Suffield, Connecticut, began her season with a World Cup bronze at Whistler before settling for two World Cup fourth places in Lake Placid and another in Friday’s world championship sprint race.
It looked like more of the same was on tap as Sweeney positioned herself into fourth place after Saturday’s opening heat. The Americans, at the intermission, were on the heels of Germans Natalie Geisenberger and Julia Taubitz, with Summer Britcher third and Sweeney next.
Sweeney then reeled off the second fastest final heat to grab third place.
Understanding the alarming nature of her crash in South Korea, Sweeney sees how that mishap continues to be viewed. But instead of trying to change history, she has used it to make herself a better racer.
“What happened in Pyeongchang made me mentally stronger, in general,” she reflected. “All the cliches are true, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. I’ve had a really challenging year and I think I’m better for it.
“Ten, 11 months ago I was pretty miserable, not gonna lie. The difference from then to now does seem unreal. And all I can say is time makes things better. Time and a lot of work.”