Alex Gough

Building off my second trip to the Olympic Winter Games in 2010, I rewrote the Canadian luge history books in 2010-11 when I emerged as one of the top sliders in the world outside of the dominant Germans. I made history when I became the first Canadian luge athlete to win a World Cup race on February 12, 2011 in Paramonovo, Russia. My victory ended the German’s streak of 105-consecutive World Cup wins. In addition to the World Cup victory, I racked up three bronze medals, and also won a bronze at the World Championships. These podium results made me the first Canadian luge athlete to win multiple World Cup medals, and I became the first Canadian woman to be onto the podium at the World Championships in luge. Since making my Olympic debut in 2006 as a young 18-year-old, I have turned heads on the international luge circuit while building to my 2010-11 historic season. My breakthrough came in 2008-2009 when I captured seven top-10 finishes, and finished fourth at the World Championships in Lake Placid, N.Y. A graduate of Calgary’s National Sport School, I discovered the sport when my mom signed me up for a recruitment camp at Canada Olympic Park. I am determined to continue progressing my way up the international rankings; my dream is to become the first Canadian woman to win an Olympic medal in Luge. That dream is closer than ever to becoming a reality. Outside of luge, I enjoy reading, skiing, mountain biking, scuba diving, water sports and hiking.