Massachusetts Lugers Compete in Winter Olympics

Zack DiGregorio and Ansel Haugsjaa represent the U.S. in luge doubles at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Zack DiGregorio, 24, from Medway, and Ansel Haugsjaa, 21, from Framingham, are two Massachusetts natives competing in luge doubles at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina. The two lugers got into the sport by chance as children, but have since dedicated themselves to the dangerous and thrilling pursuit, pushing their bodies to the limit as they race down icy tracks at speeds up to 90 mph. Despite the inherent risks, DiGregorio and Haugsjaa are driven by the opportunity to represent the U.S. on the Olympic stage, with DiGregorio returning for his second Games and Haugsjaa making his Olympic debut.

Why it matters

Luge is an extreme and niche sport that requires incredible skill and bravery, and the fact that two athletes from Massachusetts have made it to the Olympics in this discipline speaks to the sports culture in the region. Their journey also highlights the dedication and sacrifice required to reach the pinnacle of winter sports, as both DiGregorio and Haugsjaa had to make significant personal and academic sacrifices to pursue their Olympic dreams.

The details

DiGregorio and Haugsjaa compete in the luge doubles event, where they race down an icy track while lying on their backs on a small, compact sled. They experience forces of up to 5 Gs as they navigate the sharp turns, with a razor-thin margin for error that could lead to serious injury. The two lugers train rigorously, spending countless hours in the sled room and on the track, to prepare for the intense qualification process leading up to the Olympics.

  • DiGregorio competed in the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
  • The qualification period for the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina ramps up in late November with five races over a two-month span.
  • The luge doubles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics begins on Sunday with training runs.

The players

Zack DiGregorio

A 24-year-old luger from Medway, Massachusetts who is competing in his second Winter Olympics after representing the U.S. in Beijing in 2022.

Ansel Haugsjaa

A 21-year-old luger from Framingham, Massachusetts who is making his Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan Cortina.

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What they’re saying

“You're pushing the limits in every way possible. You don't have much protection, and you have to be pretty much perfect to make it down clean and to go fast.”

— Zack DiGregorio (Boston Herald)

“Usually I only really have nerves on race day, but leading up to the first qualification opportunity... even really two, three days before the actual race day, I would wake up nervous. Feeling basically what I would sometimes feel for actual races just to show up to training that day.”

— Ansel Haugsjaa (Boston Herald)

What’s next

The luge doubles event at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina begins on Sunday with training runs, followed by the competition on subsequent days.

The takeaway

The journeys of Zack DiGregorio and Ansel Haugsjaa to the Winter Olympics in the extreme sport of luge showcase the dedication, sacrifice, and bravery required to reach the pinnacle of winter sports, as well as the vibrant sports culture in Massachusetts that has produced these two elite athletes.