INTRODUCING...

Anne Abernathy

"Grandma Luge", five-time winter Olympics star from the Virgin Islands.


BIOGRAPHY


When Anne Abernathy shows up at the 2006 Winter Olympics in Torino, Italy, there won't be too many people surprised to see her. If, as it appears likely, she will once again compete in the women's Luge competition for the United States Virgin Islands,  she will  break her own record as the oldest female athlete to compete in ANY sport in the Winter Olympics.
Abernathy, nicknamed "Grandma Luge", will be 52 in 2006. In 2002, she was the oldest female athlete in the history of the  Winter Olympic Games,  a record that had stood since 1936. And she's not just providing token competition. Her strong-willed, hard-working and faith-inspired  efforts have resulted in top-flight achievement. As recently as 2004, she was in the top 15 seeded group for World Cup Luge competition three times and finished in the top 20.
Abernathy's life is remarkable, filled with a parade of remarkable stories. In 2002, the had to overcome a severe crash in which suffered a concussion and head injury in order to compete at Salt Lake City.  She was the first ever woman to compete  in the Luge competition with a camera on board in 1992 and at Lillehammer in 1994 she created the first ever online Olympic diary.
She credits her success to her faith as a Christian athlete. Her testimony has been featured in a variety of Christian publications and media outlets, including "More Than Gold", a 2002 pocket guide distributed by the Southern Baptist Ministry and "In Pursuit" a women's evangelical outreach magazine.
She is the recipient of the International Luge Federal Medal of Honor, and she has been the Athletes International 2004 Olympic Athlete of the Year. She is the founder of the U.S. Virgin Islands Luge Association and has competed in every Olympics since 1988.

Topics -  Overcoming gender, age and physical obstacles
Women and Winter Olympics competition
The world of Christian athletes.