Erin Hamlin ‘11, a three-time Olympian and an alumna of SUNY Empire State College, has made U.S. Olympic history by winning the bronze medal, luge, women’s singles, at the 2014 Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
The 27-year-old of Remsen N.Y. is the first U.S. singles luger ever to win a medal in Olympic competition.
Women’s singles comprises four runs over a two-day span. The competitor with the lowest combined elapsed time wins. Speeds on the luge track at the Sanki Sliding Center exceeded 83 mph.
Hamlin earned her A.A. in interdisciplinary studies online through the college’s Center for Distance Learning.
As with past Olympics, Hamlin’s family traveled to be with her at the competition.
“It was surreal to see Erin Hamlin win an Olympic medal yesterday,” said two-time Olympian and Empire State College student Ashley Caldwell. “I’m extremely happy for Erin.” Caldwell competes later this week in freestyle skiing, women’s aerials, and has completed all requirements for her B.S. in business, management and economics and graduates this spring. Like Hamlin, Caldwell studied online through the college’s Center for Distance Learning.
Hamlin is the second of the college’s alumni to compete in three consecutive Olympics. The first, Tony Benshoof ’08, competed in luge, men’s singles, in 2002 and 2006, where he finished fourth, and in the 2010 winter games. He coached 2014 U.S. Olympic luge team members Summer Britcher, Tucker West and Aiden Kelly at this year’s Junior World Championships held at Igls, Austria.
Hamlin was the gold medalist in 2009 at the World Championships held in Lake Placid, N.Y. She also was the 2008 Verizon U.S. National Champion and the 2009 and 2010 Norton U.S. National Champion.
and her personal website, www.erinhamlin.com.
Learn more about USA Luge, including the history, fast facts, and more at http://www.usaluge.org.
Learn more about SUNY Empire State College, including its programs and alumni, at www.esc.edu.