Mark Grimmette (born January 23, 1971 in Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...

) is an 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 competed from 1990 to 2010. Competing in five Winter Olympics, he won two medals in the men's doubles event with a silver in 2002

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...

 and a bronze in 1998

1998 Winter Olympics

The 1998 Winter Olympics, officially the XVIII Olympic Winter Games, was a winter multi-sport event celebrated from 7 to 22 February 1998 in Nagano, Japan. Seventy-two nations and 2,176 participans contested in seven sports and 72 events at 15 venues. The games saw the introduction of Women's ice...

.

Grimmette also won nine medals at the FIL World Luge Championships with two silvers (Mixed team: 2004

FIL World Luge Championships 2004

The FIL World Luge Championships 2004 took place February 13-15, 2004 at the Spiral track in Nagano, Japan. This marked the first time the event took place in Asia.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:...

, 2005

FIL World Luge Championships 2005

-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

) and seven bronzes (Men's doubles: 1999

FIL World Luge Championships 1999

The FIL World Luge Championships 1999 took place in Königssee, Germany for a record fifth time. Königssee had hosted the event previously in 1969, 1970, 1974, and 1979...

, 2000

FIL World Luge Championships 2000

The FIL World Luge Championships 2000 took place in St. Moritz, Switzerland. This marked the only time since the 1981 world championships that the event has taken place on a naturally refrigerated track.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:...

, 2004, 2005, 2007

FIL World Luge Championships 2007

The FIL World Luge Championships 2007 took place February 2-4, 2007 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Igls, Austria for the fourth time after having hosted the event in 1977, 1987, and 1997.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:...

, 2009

FIL World Luge Championships 2009

The FIL World Luge Championships 2009 ran on 1–8 February 2009 at the bobsleigh, luge, and skeleton track in Lake Placid, New York, United States for the second time after having hosted the event in 1983...

; Mixed team: 2001

FIL World Luge Championships 2001

The FIL World Luge Championships 2001 took place in Calgary, Alberta, Canada for the third time after hosting the event previously in 1990 and 1993.-Men's singles:-Women's singles:-Men's doubles:-Mixed team:-Medal table:-References:****...

). He won the overall Luge World Cup men's doubles title three times (1997–1998, 1998–1999, 2002–2003). He was selected in December 2009 to compete in 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...

.

Grimmette carried the United States flag

2010 Winter Olympics national flag bearers

During the Parade of Nations at the 2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony, held beginning at 6:00 PM PST on February 12, 2010, 82 athletes bearing the flags of their respective nations led their national delegations as they paraded into BC Place Stadium in the host city of Vancouver, British...

 during the opening ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics

2010 Winter Olympics opening ceremony

The Opening Ceremony of the 2010 Winter Olympics was held on February 12, 2010 beginning at 6:00 pm PST at BC Place Stadium in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. This was the first Olympic opening ceremony to be held indoors...

 in Vancouver

Vancouver

Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...

.

He announced his retirement on 17 March 2010.

On 29 April 2010, it was announced that Grimmette was named USA Luge's Sports Program Director and also was involved as a head coach.

Personal life

Mark Grimmette lived in Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon, Michigan

Muskegon is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. As of the 2010 census, the city population was 38,401. The city is the county seat of Muskegon County...

 and graduated from Reeths-Puffer originally, but moved to Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid, New York

Lake Placid is a village in the Adirondack Mountains in Essex County, New York, United States. As of the 2000 census, the village had a population of 2,638....

after being named to his current position.