John Fennell

John Fennell, born on May 28, 1995, is a talented luger who has represented both the United States and Canada in international competitions since 2011. His journey in the sport began with a remarkable performance at the inaugural Youth Olympics in Innsbruck, Austria, where he secured a commendable seventh place. Fennell continued to showcase his skills at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi, Russia, finishing in twenty-seventh place.

Hailing from a sports-oriented family, John is the son of former Canadian Football League player Dave Fennell and Lynne Fennell. His brother, David Fennell Jr., also made his mark in athletics as a fullback for the Michigan State football team. This athletic lineage has undoubtedly influenced John's competitive spirit and dedication to his sport.

In a significant personal milestone, Fennell publicly came out as gay in May 2014, just months after his Olympic debut. Despite not finishing in the top ten at the Sochi Olympics, he demonstrated resilience by launching a fundraising campaign on the sports crowdfunding platform MAKEACHAMP in December 2014 to support his training and competition needs.

In 2016, leveraging his dual Canadian-U.S. citizenship, Fennell sought to compete for a spot on the U.S. National team. However, during the 2018 U.S. Olympic trials, he faced a setback when he crashed his sled, ultimately preventing him from making the Olympic team. Despite the challenges, Fennell's journey in luge continues to inspire many.