Erin Hamlin leads USA 1-2 in Park City

Hamlin, 30, won with a combined time of 1:29.257, while compatriot Sweeney, 23, scooped silver after finishing 0.127 behind at the event in Park City.

It is the second World Cup gold of Hamlin's career, after the New York athlete won the title at Lake Placid in 2009.

She is the first female American luge athlete to medal at any Winter Olympics, when she won bronze in Sochi 2014.

Canada's Alex Gough, 29, won bronze, her third medal of the season, 0.327 seconds off the pace of Hamlin.

Sportsbeat 2016