PARK CITY, Utah --- On Wednesday night, Feb. 26, Thomas Hernon, Jr. (Deer Mountain, Utah) became the first American Paraplegic athlete to steer a luge sled down an Olympic luge course. Using an “Adapted Luge Sled” developed by USA Luge Western Regional Development Coach, Jon Owen, Hernon took four runs down the 1,316-meter long 2002 Olympic track.

“This was a culmination of a three-year research and development effort,” offered Owen. “Going into this I had an idea that this could work, now I’m confident that this could be a viable international sport in the future.”

Before working his way to the track’s tourist start, above curve 11, the 39-year-old Hernon, a receptionist at the Utah Olympic Park Host Desk, took one run from curve 14 and two more from curve 12. On his final run – from the tourist start – Hernon reached a top speed in excess of 40 miles per hour.

“I was very surprised and pleased with how the sled handled,” said Hernon. “There was never a point tonight where I felt as though I was going down the course out of control.” Hernon, a certified ski and snowboard instructor, a certified scuba diver, a former lifeguard, and a kayak instructor, broke his back and injured his spine at t9 to t12 during an Oct. 1997 Moto-cross accident.

The National Ability Center (NAC), in Park City, is now considering efforts to introduce the sport of luge in a future Paralympic Winter Games. During the Salt Lake City 2002 Paralympic Winter Games, athletes from 36 countries competed in Sledge Ice Hockey, as well as alpine and nordic skiing.

For more information about USA Luge’s “Adapted Luge Sled” program, contact Owen at (435) 647-3800 or the NAC at (435) 649-3991.