VOA标准英语2010年-Luge World Champion Erin Hamlin Seeks

Two-time U.S. Olympian Erin Hamlin is the first American woman to win a luge world championship

Two-time U.S. Olympian Erin Hamlin is the first American woman to win a luge world championship.  In Vancouver, she is attempting to become the first U.S. woman to win a luge Olympic medal.  VOA profiles the 23-year-old Hamlin, who is considered the best hope the United States has for a luge podium finish at the 2010 Winter Games.

Last year, Erin Hamlin did something that no American has ever done.  She broke the powerhouse Germans' luge winning streak¹ at 99 international victories to win a World Championship on her home track in Lake Placid², New York - the site of the 1980 Olympics.  She is the first non-German since 1993 to win a world title. 

Heading into the 2009 World Championships the Germans had won 19 of the last 20 world titles.

Hamlin says that while some of the German racers were devastated³ and stunned⁴ by her victory, others cheered and offered their congratulations.  

"Granted, their team didn't win, but at the same time they understand this is going to be great for the sport and brings a new perspective," Hamlin said. "It makes things a little bit more interesting."

Perhaps with that in mind, Hamlin says she thinks that her gold medal achievement last year will be on minds of the German racers in Vancouver. 

"I don't think that before, they ever really cared to think twice, but now I think they have to reclaim⁵ their rightful spot," Hamlin said. "The German women have had that streak for so long, but not having them up there, not having to hear the German [national] anthem⁶ again, was awesome⁷." 

Erin Hamlin finished the 2010 World Cup season in fourth place with two bronze medals.  She was behind the top three Germans - Anke Wischnewski, Natalie Geisenberger, and number one Tatjana Huefner who is a two time former world champion and reigning⁸ 2006 olympic bronze medalist.

All four women are considered medal contenders in Vancouver, however Germany is favored because it has won seven of the last 10 Olympic gold medals.

In late January, Hamlin won the silver medal behind Huefner at the Challenge Cup competition on the Turin Olympic track in Cesana, Italy.  Geisenberger was third.  The event is for the best 10 luge racers-- or sliders -- from the World Cup standings, with no more than two athletes per nation competing.

But every track is different, and Hamlin says speed is what sets Vancouver's Whistler Olympic track apart from others. 

"The technical parts of how it's built, and the elevation⁹ drop," Hamlin said.  "Some of the curves are bigger where you can pick up a lot of speed, and then you get to the bottom and it's just fast." 

How fast?

"We go around right around 90 miles an hour (144 kph), the men 95 (152 kph).  And for the Olympics I'm sure it will creep a little faster," Hamlin said.  

Erin Hamlin is from the town of Remsen in upstate New York, where winter sports are popular. She first started sliding at the age of 12.   She says she had to work hard to learn the technical aspects of the sport such as steering¹⁰, but she liked the challenge, and that is what kept her interested.

After her 2009 victory at Lake Placid, a local ice cream shop in Remsen, The Soda¹¹ Fountain, celebrated¹² Hamlin's gold medal success by naming a dessert after her.  The World Champion Erin Hamlin Sundae, consists of vanilla¹³ ice cream mixed with Reese's peanut butter cups and Oreo cookies, with hot fudge, whipped cream and a cherry on top.

Ice cream confections aside, it is conquering a tough course that gives Hamlin a certain satisfaction.

"When a track challenges you, it makes it that much more fulfilling when you can get to the bottom and feel like that was really good," Hamlin said.

And don't forget going fast.  Whistler Olympic-track fast.  Erin Hamlin aims to slide her way to a sweet medal finish in Vancouver.

 

1 streak   

n.条理，斑纹，倾向，少许，痕迹；v.加条纹，变成条纹，奔驰，快速移动

参考例句：

• The Indians used to streak their faces with paint.印第安人过去常用颜料在脸上涂条纹。
• Why did you streak the tree?你为什么在树上刻条纹？

2 placid   

adj.安静的，平和的

参考例句：

• He had been leading a placid life for the past eight years.八年来他一直过着平静的生活。
• You should be in a placid mood and have a heart-to- heart talk with her.你应该心平气和的好好和她谈谈心。

3 devastated   

v.彻底破坏( devastate的过去式和过去分词)；摧毁；毁灭；在感情上（精神上、财务上等）压垮adj.毁坏的；极为震惊的

参考例句：

• The bomb devastated much of the old part of the city. 这颗炸弹炸毁了旧城的一大片地方。
• His family is absolutely devastated. 他的一家感到极为震惊。

4 stunned   

adj. 震惊的，惊讶的 动词stun的过去式和过去分词

参考例句：

• The fall stunned me for a moment. 那一下摔得我昏迷了片刻。
• The leaders of the Kopper Company were then stunned speechless. 科伯公司的领导们当时被惊得目瞪口呆。

5 reclaim   

v.要求归还，收回；开垦

参考例句：

• I have tried to reclaim my money without success.我没能把钱取回来。
• You must present this ticket when you reclaim your luggage.当你要取回行李时，必须出示这张票子。

6 anthem   

n.圣歌，赞美诗，颂歌

参考例句：

• All those present were standing solemnly when the national anthem was played.奏国歌时全场肃立。
• As he stood on the winner's rostrum,he sang the words of the national anthem.他站在冠军领奖台上，唱起了国歌。

7 awesome   

adj.令人惊叹的，难得吓人的，很好的

参考例句：

• The church in Ireland has always exercised an awesome power.爱尔兰的教堂一直掌握着令人敬畏的权力。
• That new white convertible is totally awesome.那辆新的白色折篷汽车简直棒极了.

8 reigning   

adj.统治的，起支配作用的

参考例句：

• The sky was dark, stars were twinkling high above, night was reigning, and everything was sunk in silken silence. 天很黑，星很繁，夜阑人静。
• Led by Huang Chao, they brought down the reigning house after 300 years' rule. 在黄巢的带领下，他们推翻了统治了三百年的王朝。

9 elevation   

n.高度；海拔；高地；上升；提高

参考例句：

• The house is at an elevation of 2,000 metres.那幢房子位于海拔两千米的高处。
• His elevation to the position of General Manager was announced yesterday.昨天宣布他晋升总经理职位。

10 steering   

n.操舵装置

参考例句：

• He beat his hands on the steering wheel in frustration. 他沮丧地用手打了几下方向盘。
• Steering according to the wind, he also framed his words more amicably. 他真会看风使舵，口吻也马上变得温和了。

11 soda   

n.苏打水；汽水

参考例句：

• She doesn't enjoy drinking chocolate soda.她不喜欢喝巧克力汽水。
• I will freshen your drink with more soda and ice cubes.我给你的饮料重加一些苏打水和冰块。

12 celebrated   

adj.有名的，声誉卓著的

参考例句：

• He was soon one of the most celebrated young painters in England.不久他就成了英格兰最负盛名的年轻画家之一。
• The celebrated violinist was mobbed by the audience.观众团团围住了这位著名的小提琴演奏家。

13 vanilla   

n.香子兰，香草

参考例句：

• He used to love milk flavoured with vanilla.他过去常爱喝带香草味的牛奶。
• I added a dollop of vanilla ice-cream to the pie.我在馅饼里加了一块香草冰激凌。