Bengt Walden
Encyclopedia
Bengt Walden is a Swedish
-born, American
luge
r who has competed since 1985, internationally since 1988, when he joined the Swedish national team. He married American luger Ashley Hayden in 2006, and joined the United States national team in 2007. He switched his citizenship from Sweden
to the United States
in 2009 in order to be able to compete as an American at the 2010 Olympics.
He finished 23rd in the men's singles event at the 2002 Winter Olympics
in Salt Lake City competing for Sweden
.
He competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics
for the United States
, finishing 15th.
Walden has competed twice for the US in the World Luge Championships, as well as once for the Swedish team. In 2007, he placed 13th, competing for Sweden. Competing for the US, he placed 12th in 2008, and sixth in 2009.
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
-born, American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
luge
Luge
A Luge is a small one- or two-person sled on which one sleds supine and feet-first. Steering is done by flexing the sled's runners with the calf of each leg or exerting opposite shoulder pressure to the seat. Racing sleds weigh 21-25 kilograms for singles and 25-30 kilograms for doubles. Luge...
r who has competed since 1985, internationally since 1988, when he joined the Swedish national team. He married American luger Ashley Hayden in 2006, and joined the United States national team in 2007. He switched his citizenship from Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
to the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
in 2009 in order to be able to compete as an American at the 2010 Olympics.
Career
- Olympics:
He finished 23rd in the men's singles event at the 2002 Winter Olympics
2002 Winter Olympics
The 2002 Winter Olympics, officially the XIX Olympic Winter Games, were a winter multi-sport event that was celebrated in February 2002 in and around Salt Lake City, Utah, United States. Approximately 2,400 athletes from 77 nations participated in 78 events in fifteen disciplines, held throughout...
in Salt Lake City competing for Sweden
Sweden
Sweden , officially the Kingdom of Sweden , is a Nordic country on the Scandinavian Peninsula in Northern Europe. Sweden borders with Norway and Finland and is connected to Denmark by a bridge-tunnel across the Öresund....
.
He competed at the 2010 Winter Olympics
2010 Winter Olympics
The 2010 Winter Olympics, officially the XXI Olympic Winter Games or the 21st Winter Olympics, were a major international multi-sport event held from February 12–28, 2010, in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, with some events held in the suburbs of Richmond, West Vancouver and the University...
for the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, finishing 15th.
- FIL World Luge Championships:
Walden has competed twice for the US in the World Luge Championships, as well as once for the Swedish team. In 2007, he placed 13th, competing for Sweden. Competing for the US, he placed 12th in 2008, and sixth in 2009.