Luger Chris Mazdzer secures nomination to U.S. Olympic Team
By Nick ZaccardiNov 25, 2013, 12:06 PM EST
USA Luge has its first 2014 Olympian.
Chris Mazdzer, who finished 13th at the 2010 Olympics, fulfilled USA Luge's qualifying criteria with a fourth-place finish at a World Cup event in Igls, Austria, on Saturday. It nominated Mazdzer to the U.S. Olympic Team, according to TeamUSA.org on Monday.
"It's a huge burden off," Mazdzer, 25, told The Associated Press. "You don't really have to worry about what-ifs."
A singles U.S. luger has never won an Olympic medal. Mazdzer is coming off a sixth-place finish at the World Championships in February.
USA Luge could qualify up to three men's athletes for the Olympic Team based off World Cup results.
Two-time Olympian Erin Hamlin is the next closest luger to an Olympic berth after taking sixth in Igls.
Full list of athletes nominated to U.S. Olympic Team