Secret to success: keeping secrets; any edge is vital when hundredths of a second are the difference.(The Dallas Morning News)

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Americans Mark Grimmette and Brian Martin worked many years and took improbable routes to become a world-class luge doubles team.

They built fences, drove a beer cart and washed dishes to make ends meet on their way to winning a bronze medal in the 1998 Olympics at Nagano.

So how could they become so proficient at hurtling down a frozen track at 85 mph and G-forces up to 5 _ and still feel like they are fighting an uphill battle?

"It used to be that there weren't any secrets in luge," Martin said. "Now I think there are some secrets out there. People are trying anything _ even unscrupulous things _ to ...