The British Olympic Association is saddened to hear three-time Olympic luger AJ Rosen has passed away at the age of 37 following a battle with cancer.
Rosen will go down as perhaps Britain’s greatest luge athlete, not only competing at the Turin 2006, Vancouver 2010 and PyeongChang 2018 Olympic Winter Games but also recording GB’s best-ever result at a Luge World Cup – finishing sixth in Calgary during the 2008-09 season.
In addition to his remarkable skills on the ice, Rosen was regarded as one of the warmest and friendliest individuals and will be sorely missed by those who knew him.
BOA Chief Executive Andy Anson said: “The British Olympic Association is deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Adam ‘AJ’ Rosen.
“A three-time Olympian competing in luge, AJ was often the sole representative from his sport for Team GB, but his infectious smile and warm personality made him a highly valued member of any Team GB delegation he was a part of. Our thoughts and condolences go to AJ’s family, loved ones and his sporting friends and colleagues.”
Born in New York to an English mother, Rosen first discovered luge while watching the Lillehammer 1994 Olympic Winter Games as a nine-year-old and just 12 years later he would be lining up in Team GB colours in Turin to make his own Olympic debut.
The then-21-year-old finished a creditable 16th in the men’s singles event in Italy and matched that Olympic performance four years later in the same event at Vancouver 2010.
Although he failed to qualify for Sochi 2014, Rosen was determined to reach a third Games and achieved exactly that when he was selected in the Team GB squad for PyeongChang 2018.
He came 22nd in the men’s singles and announced his retirement from the sport shortly afterwards, ending his career as a titan of British luge.
Announcing his death on Twitter on Sunday December 19th 2021, Luge GB wrote: “With great sadness we announce that 3x Team GB Olympian AJ Rosen passed away this morning following a ferocious battle against cancer.
“AJ was not only one of the greatest ever GB Luge Olympians, he was also the friendliest and most down-to-earth person you could ever wish to meet.”