A luge athlete with deep roots in the Philadelphia region is making his Olympic debut. <\/p>\n
Matthew Greiner will represent Team USA in Cortina. <\/p>\n
The 22-year-old was born in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania.<\/p>\n
\u201cTo see a track just packed with spectators, I\u2019ve never experienced anything like that,\u201d said Greiner. \u201cI am so thrilled. I cannot wait.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greiner said he honestly did not see this coming. He was brought to tears when he officially qualified for the Games. <\/p>\n
His first order of business? Calling his parents.<\/p>\n
“So emotional. I’m tearing up just thinking about it,\u201d said Greiner. \u201cI got to tell my parents they didn\u2019t need to sell their tickets. Because my dad is my number one supporter, biggest believer, he has had everything set up for the Games for months even when we didn\u2019t know what was going to happen.\u201d<\/p>\n
Greiner\u2019s parents, Jeff and Arlene, also get emotional talking about that moment. <\/p>\n
They still remember the first time Greiner tried the sport in 2014.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe\u2019ve seen Matt have setbacks and injuries and keep on going,\u201d said Arlene Greiner. \u201cDisciplined, nerves of steel, never gave up, and that\u2019s… what more can you ask for in your son?\u201d<\/p>\n
Greiner\u2019s mom, Arlene, is originally from South Philadelphia. Her mother, Greiner\u2019s grandmother, still lives there.<\/p>\n
Greiner\u2019s parents moved to Montgomery County and lived there until Greiner was six-years-old. <\/p>\n
They say he loved the Philadelphia Zoo, vacationing at the Jersey Shore, and rooting for the city\u2019s sports teams.<\/p>\n
An outgoing friendly kid, they say a lot of their son’s personality was formed in the Philadelphia region.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnd that\u2019s a great place for it to form,\u201d said Jeff Greiner. \u201cBecause Philly is passionate. And Matt is a passionate guy.\u201d<\/p>\n
Moving out to Park City, Utah, Greiner found a new sport to channel some of that passion. His family\u2019s new home was a little more than ten minutes away from the luge track.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are lucky that we are so close and he got a chance to do it, and he got good at it and better and better and better and better and just worked his way all the way to the top,\u201d said Greiner\u2019s mom.<\/p>\n
Ahead of the Olympics, Greiner said he is hoping to soak everything in and enjoy it.<\/p>\n
“My number one thing is to have a good time,\u201d said Greiner.<\/p>\n
Greiner\u2019s parents say they want him to feel as if he did his very best and to enjoy what he has earned.<\/p>\n
\u201cYou know we are just kind of quiet people. He\u2019s a principal, and I\u2019m a nurse. We do our thing. It\u2019s hard to believe that our son is going to be watched by the entire world,\u201d Greiner\u2019s mom said. \u201cThat is huge. It\u2019s like, oh my gosh, everyone is going to have their eyes on our son who we are so proud of. That makes you even more proud. It makes your heart want to burst.\u201d<\/p>\n