Tony Benshoof
- USA Luge All Time Leading Medal Winner - Men's Singles - 5 gold, 8 silver, 12 bronze
- Has medaled in every event in the 2005-2006 season (as of 1/1/06)
- Current TRACK RECORD HOLDER - Cessana Pariol - site of 2006 Olympic Games
- Guinness Book of World Records - 'fastest luge speed' - 86.6 mph
- 2006 & 2002 Olympian

For more on Tony visit:  www.tonybenshoof.com or check out his NBCOlympics.com profile

A 17th place finish on his home track at the 2002 Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City left this fifteen year veteran of luge unsatisfied and grappling with thoughts of athletic retirement.  Fortunately for Benshoof, and the US Luge program, his post-Olympic soul searching resulted in the conclusion that the best was yet to come. He committed to another four years and since then he has become a veritable fixture on luge medals podiums around the world.  Tony Benshoof is now America's all time leading medal winner on the singles sled having won a remarkable 25 World Cup medals. 

At the first World Cup competition of this Olympic season Tony captured the silver medal and became one of the first Americans, in any sport, to solidify a 2006 Olympic birth.  He has gone on to win a medal at every stop on this year's World Cup tour and along the way set the track record - the fastest sled ever - on the luge track in Cessan Pariol, Italy - where the Olympic Games will be held in February.  Tony has firmly established himself as one of the US Olympic Team's most promising medal contenders - something no other US singles luge athlete has ever accomplished.   

"As they say, hindsight is 20/20, so I look back now at the disappointment I felt over my performance in 2002 as the catalyst that pushed me to an even higher level of performance.  Since then, the last four years have really been a dream come true.  After fifteen years of paying my dues, I've now developed the ability, self confidence and self control to be a contender on any given day.  Having seriously considered calling it quits after 2002, it's extremely satisfying to know that my recommitment to this sport that I love has now positioned me for a shot at the Olympics medals podium."

Athletic Accomplishments

•  Finished 17th at 2002 XIX Olympic Winter Games in Salt Lake City, Utah, USA
  • Included in 2002 Guinness World Records Book for establishing the highest-ever recorded luge speed (86.6 mph) on Oct. 16, 2001
  • USA Lug's all-time singles leader in int'l medals won, 25 (5 gold, 8 silver, 12 bronze)
  • A two-time (2004 & 2005) World Championship team event silver medalist, a 2001 world championship team event bronze medalist
  • Raced to eight medals in 2003-04 (2 gold, 1 silver, five bronze)
  • A two-time fall 2003 Challenge Cup gold medalist (Altenberg, Germany, Park City, Utah)
  • Set new Altenberg, Germany track record of 54.240 (Nov. 23, 2003)
  • Six-time  Verizon U.S. National Champion (2000, 2001, 2002, 2004, 2005 & 2006)
  • Three-time Verizon North American Champion (2000, 2001 & 2004)

  2005-06 Results

  • 2005-06 World Cup results: 2nd, 3rd, 2nd, 2nd,

  • A fall  2005 World Cup team event gold medalist (Dec. 10, 2005)

  • A fall  2005 World Cup team event bronze medalist (Dec. 17)

  • 2005-06 Verizon U.S. National Champion

   

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Personal Info:

• Date of Birth: July 7, 1975
• Height / Weight 6'1", 200 Lbs.
• Born in St. Paul, MN
• Resides in White Bear Lake, MN during off-season
• Favorite off-season activities include water skiing and motorcycling, golf and playing piano and guitar.
• Currently enrolled at Empire State University, SUNY. Expected graduation date fall 2006 with B.S in Business, Management and Economics

Email Tony at:
tony.benshoof@gmail.com

 

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