Mark Grimmette (born January 23, 1971) is an American luger who competed from 1990 to 2010. Competing in five Winter Olympics, he won two medals in the men's doubles event with a silver in 2002 and a bronze in 1998. He was born in Ann Arbor, Michigan.

Mark Grimmette
Personal information
BornJanuary 23, 1971 (1971-01-23) (age 53)
Ann Arbor, Michigan, U.S.
Medal record
Luge
Representing  United States
Olympic Games
Silver medal – second place 2002 Salt Lake City Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 1998 Nagano Men's doubles
World Championships
Silver medal – second place 2004 Nagano Mixed team
Silver medal – second place 2005 Park City Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 1999 Königssee Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2000 St. Moritz Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2001 Calgary Mixed team
Bronze medal – third place 2004 Nagano Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2005 Park City Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2007 Igls Men's doubles
Bronze medal – third place 2009 Lake Placid Men's doubles

Grimmette also won nine medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with two silvers (Mixed team: 2004, 2005) and seven bronzes (Men's doubles: 1999, 2000, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2009; Mixed team: 2001). He won the overall Luge World Cup men's doubles title three times (1997–1998, 1998–1999, 2002–2003). He was selected in December 2009 to compete in the 2010 Winter Olympics.

Grimmette carried the United States flag during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.[1]

He announced his retirement on March 17, 2010.[2]

On April 29, 2010, it was announced that Grimmette was named USA Luge's Sports Program Director and also was involved as a head coach.

Personal life

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Mark Grimmette lived in Muskegon, Michigan, and graduated from Reeths-Puffer High School originally, but moved to Lake Placid, New York, after being named to his current position. He lives there with his wife Keela, founder of Reason 2 Smile.[3][4] Grimmette and his wife Keela have three children.

A biography of Mark Grimmette is 9.8 Meters Per Second Per Second by Jean E. Van Lente.

Grimmette attended the University of Denver in the early 1990s.

References

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  1. ^ "Five-time Olympian Mark Grimmette selected as flag bearer for the 2010 U.S. Team". February 11, 2010.
  2. ^ The most decorated athletes ever to race for USA Luge. at the Fédération Internationale de Luge de Course (March 17, 2010 article accessed March 18, 2010.)
  3. ^ "Home". reason2smilefoundation.com.
  4. ^ keyreporter (August 12, 2014). "A Reason to Smile". The Key Reporter. Retrieved March 22, 2024.
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Olympic Games
Preceded by Flagbearer for   United States
Vancouver 2010
Succeeded by