CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy (AP) — Marcus Mueller and Ansel Haugsjaa made history for USA Luge on Wednesday, becoming the first American sled ever to lead an Olympic race going into the final heat of a competition.

Mueller and Haugsjaa — Olympic rookies — finished their first run of the men's doubles competition of the Milan Cortina Games in 52.482 seconds. That gave them the lead going into the second and final heat by the slimmest of margins.

Austria's Thomas Steu and Wolfgang Kindl's time in the first heat was 52.485 seconds.

Mueller and Haugsjaa won a World Cup race earlier this season and were the world junior doubles champions in 2024.

The second heat is later Wednesday.

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AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics