AUBURN — When Julia Clukey was 12, she walked into a USA luge recruiting event in Portland and almost immediately fell in love with the sport. The sled was fun, fast and something she’d never experienced as a child in Augusta. Within hours, she was hooked.

Clukey was invited to join a weeklong training session, then a monthlong training camp. Soon, she was a member of the Junior World Cup Team. Then the Senior World Cup Team. Over the years, she crashed, got injured and wondered whether she should continue the sport. But with support, she pushed on and persevered. She worked hard. Took chances. Had hope.

At the Boys & Girls Club of Southern Maine’s Auburn/Lewiston Clubhouse on Tuesday night, she sought to inspire the same for a new generation of children. 

“I was standing in the tunnel for the opening ceremony of the (2010) Olympics. … I remember standing there and thinking, ‘Wow, you are finally part of this group of people you’ve been looking up to for so long,'” Clukey said.

Clukey, 25, was the guest speaker at the club’s 14th annual Steak & Burger Dinner, one of its largest fundraisers of the year. About 150 people turned out for the event, including about three dozen of the club’s young members, who were there by special invitation. 

Clukey, the only Maine athlete to compete in luge at the Olympics, toured the club with members Tuesday afternoon. After dinner, she spoke about her luge career, her triumphs and tragedies, and the support she gets from friends, family, teammates and coaches. 

“You can’t really get there by yourself,” she said. “I wouldn’t be here today without people to help me along the way.”

Afterward, both children and adults clamored for her autograph. One little girl said Clukey made her want to try the sport.

“It was great,” said 7-year-old Autumn Nay of Auburn. “And I think she’s a very nice person.”

Cy Saucier, 9, of Auburn, also felt inspired by Clukey, but not to luge.

“I’m going to go on to a football career,” he said.

Clukey will also speak to students Wednesday at St. Dominic Academy’s Auburn campus.  Tuesday’s Boys & Girls Club event raised about $10,000.

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