Brookfield’s Marcus Mueller made a notable debut at the Winter Olympics, finishing sixth in the men’s doubles luge alongside his partner Ansel Haugsjaa on February 11, 2026, at the Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina, Italy. This marked a significant moment as it was their first Olympic competition, and they came tantalizingly close to achieving a historic gold medal for the United States in this challenging sport.
The American duo raised eyebrows when they clocked the fastest time in the opening run at 52.482 seconds. However, a few wobbles during their second run hindered their efforts to medal, leading to a combined time of 1:45.293, just slightly more than two-tenths of a second shy of the gold medal-winning time.
The gold went to Italy’s Emanuel Rieder and Simon Kainzwaldner, who finished with a combined time of 1:45.086. Notably, the fierce competition included two-time reigning Olympic champions Tobias Wendl and Tobias Arlt from Germany, who snagged the bronze, while Austria’s Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl clinched the silver.
Previously, the United States has had limited success in men’s doubles luge at the Olympics, securing only two medals: a silver in 1998 by Chris Thope and Gordy Sheer, and a bronze in the same year by Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin. The 2002 games also saw both pairs switch places on the podium.
Mueller, who is just 20 years old and a graduate of Brookfield Central High School, and Haugsjaa, 21, from Framingham, Massachusetts, have proven their capabilities on the world stage, having won the 2025 U23 World Championship in men’s doubles and multiple Junior World Cup gold medals during the 2024-25 season. Their impressive performances showcase a bright future for American luge, igniting hope for continued success in upcoming competitions.