From Whistler to Calgary, Canadian luge trio's Olympic journey nearing full circle

Rewatch the 2010 Vancouver Paralympics closing ceremony closely, and you'll see three Canadian Olympic hopefuls belting out their national anthem.

None of Caitlin Nash, Trinity Ellis and Embyr-lee Susko were even 10 years old then.

But in that moment, and through various experiences in their B.C. childhoods, each decided somewhere deep down that this would be their path.

Little did they know that 14 years later, they'd be teammates on the Canadian luge team and roommates in Calgary.

In February, all three could be back home at the Whistler Sliding Centre to compete at the luge world championships.

"We're legacy athletes of that track and we're sort of the first generation to have grown up having Whistler as their home track. So it's a pretty cool thing to have in your back pocket," Nash said.

"I mean, when we were, I don't know, in our youth, that was like four times a week, every week, just at the Whistler Sliding Centre."

Nash, Ellis and Susko comprise perhaps the first group of athletes who were directly impacted and inspired by Vancouver 2010.

For many, it's easy to wonder how athletes end up in the relatively niche Olympic sport of luge. But for Nash, Ellis and Susko, luge was displayed immediately in front of them — particularly for Susko, whose brothers entered the sport before her and whose parents said they'd take her to exactly one event at the 2010 Games.

"Ironically enough, I watched women's luge. … I remember watching it and thinking, 'Oh, I'll never, never do that sport.' And sure enough, I'm here. And now I love it," said Susko, the youngest of the trio at 19 years old.

Luge came more naturally to Nash and Ellis, who each went out to the Sliding Centre on school field trips.

"I think it takes a special