CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy – It's impossible to miss USA lugerSummer Britcheron the track.
Her yellow sled is incredibly distinct. It stands out against the white ice beneath her. It clashes with her red, white and blue suit. And itcaught the attention of Saturday Night Live's writers room, which aired a sketch Jan. 31 parodying NBC'sWinter Olympicspromo where cast memberJane Wicklineplayed a reluctant luger – sliding on a yellow sled – coached by special guestAlexander Skarsgård.
"My boyfriend sent it to me," Britcher said Friday when asked about the sketch. "And as I was watching it, just more and more the details stood out. I was like, 'Hey, hang on a second! That sled's an interesting color!"
The difference between Britcher and Wickline's character "Gertie Burper" – who hates the luge because "it's way too fast" and "scares me to death" – is that Britcher is teeming with excitement at this, her fourth Olympic Games. She had media at Friday's USA Luge press conference cackling with constant jokes and wisecracks at the podium, like lobbying to borrow a helicopter to Milan for figure skating and sharing a "personal request" to mic up teammate Ansel Haugsjaa while the whole team is "strutting" at the opening ceremony. It'd be "a treat for the whole world."
It's all part of her intention to "appreciate the process" and "enjoy every race" as she has all season. She's trying desperately to hold onto that mindset in Cortina, knowing it's been a determining factor of her success, while also being acutely aware of how results build pressure and expectations.
Positivity was actually the impetus for her unique sled choice.
Eight or so years ago, her pod got hit during shipment, causing two chunks of paint to chip off. As a joke, she drew a curved line under them to make a smiley face. Which annoyed her old coachBill Tavares. But it stuck. Even after she retired that sled, Britcher continued to draw smiley faces on whatever pod she used for every race.
For a while, she thought about getting a yellow sled to go all-in on the smiley face motif. It wasn't until this season that she actually decided to do it.
"It's kind of a risky color move… so I was always too nervous," Britcher said last month. "And then I thought, 'You know what? I want to do it. I'm just trying to really enjoy myself and enjoy sliding this year. And I think it'll be fun, even if it turns out terrible.' But it turned out really cool."
Meditation and manifestation are a big part of elite athletes' success. Britcher's sled offers a constant reminder to take a deep breath, to take it easy and to smile.
And hopefully it'll also remind whoever laughed at Gertie Burper this week to tune into some luge runs.
Reach USA TODAY Network sports reporter Payton Titus at ptitus@gannett.com, and follow her on X @petitus25.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Summer Britcher's yellow sled makes USA luger smile at Winter Olympics
