Sheer, Gordy

Sport:
luge

Country Represented:
United States

Years Competed:
1992, 1994, 1998

Medals Received:
silver

Olympic Info:
A member of the United States luge team at three Olympiads, Sheer competed in the two-man event with partner Chris Thorpe. After finishing 12th at the 1992 Albertville (France) Winter Games, and fifth at the 1994 Lillehammer (Norway) Games, Sheer won a medal in his final Olympiad. At the 1998 Nagano Games, Sheer and partner Chris Thorpe captured the silver medal in doubles luge (1:41.127); the medal win ended a 34-year drought for the U.S. in the Olympic luge competition.

After winning his medal at the Nagano Games, Sheer commented, "What will it be like for us walking down a street in America? Well, I don't expect to be walking down street and being recognized like Alberto Tomba [an Italian skiier] or Michael Jordan."

Career Highlights:
Sheer, who first wanted to try the luge after seeing it on television, joined up with Chris Thorpe in 1987. They quickly became the best two-man luge team in the United States and won the gold medal in the North American Championships in 1990 and 1991. After setting the American record while qualifying for the 1992 Olympic Games, Sheer and Thorpe emerged onto the world stage in the mid-1990s.

They took the silver medal at the World Championships in 1995 and 1996, and then captured the World Cup overall championship (the first time a non-European team ever won a season-long title). After finishing fourth in the World Cup the following year, Sheer and Thorpe won the silver medal at the 1999 U.S. Championships and then placed fifth at the World Championships. In 2000, they placed sixth at both the European and World Championships. Sheer retired in 2001 and is currently the U.S. Luge marketing director.

Birth and Death Dates:
b. June 9, 1971

Origin:
White Plains, New York

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