FROM RUSSIA, WITH SLED

In his efforts to break out of a slump and get back on top, American luger Chris Mazdzer, the surprising new owner of an Olympic silver medal, received a helping hand from perhaps the unlikeliest of places — a competitor from the Russian team. It’s hard to believe how far Mazdzer had come in just the past few weeks. In January, he’d slid to No. 18 in the world rankings, felt stuck in a rut that was coming to define his entire season. Other lugers had taken notice, and Mazdzer revealed Monday that one of his Russian rivals offered the use of his sled. The Russian racer felt his own Olympic hopes were fading, Mazdzer said, but wanted to help the American veteran do his best. How often does a luger offer up his most important piece of equipment? “Never,” Mazdzer said. It’d be like a NASCAR driver lending out his car. “It’s like, ‘ This is your competitive advantage, this is everything. Are you sure?’ ” Mazdzer recalled. “And in some broken language of smiles and handshakes and high-fives, it’s like, ‘Yeah, just do it.’ ”