Julia Clukey

Olympian Julia Clukey was born on April 29, 1985 in Augusta, Maine. Growing up in Maine provided her plenty of opportunities to find a passion for the outdoors and winter sports. As a child, Julia played a variety of sports including basketball and soccer. It wasn’t until the age of 12 that she first tried the sport of luge. One Saturday afternoon, Julia and a friend were looking for something to do on a summer day and found an advertisement for a U.S.A. Luge recruiting tour event on Spring Street in Portland, Maine. As part of the event, U.S.A. Luge provided kids the opportunity to get on a luge sled (with wheels) and slide down Spring Street, one of Portland’s steepest streets. Captivated by the speed, adrenaline and challenges of the sport, Julia was hooked. A year later, Julia was competing at the junior level in international competitions. By age 17, she had captured many individual Junior World Cup medals and was on her way to success.