Ashley Farquharson captured a historic bronze medal for Team USA in women's singles luge on Tuesday at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Cortina d'Ampezzo, becoming just the second American woman ever to medal in the event.
The 26-year-old finished with a combined time of 3:31.582 across four runs at the Cortina Sliding Center, matching the best Olympic finish in U.S. women's luge history. Erin Hamlin previously won bronze at the 2014 Sochi Games, marking the only other medal in the program's history.
Farquharson entered the final two runs in fifth place but delivered a strong third run of 52.877 seconds to move into podium contention. She maintained her position with a steady fourth run to secure bronze behind Germany's Julia Taubitz and Latvia's Elina Bota.
A native of Park City, Utah, Farquharson began sliding at age 11 through a local after-school program - one of many pathways in a community deeply connected to winter sports. Her performance in Cortina reflects years of steady development in one of the Winter Olympics' most demanding disciplines.
Luge athletes can exceed speeds of 80 miles per hour while navigating tight, icy curves with little room for error. Fellow American Emily Fischnaller, who famously broke her neck and back in a 2018 Olympic crash before returning to competition, finished 12th in this year's event - underscoring both the risk and resilience required in the sport.
For Farquharson, the bronze medal marks a breakthrough moment not only for herself but for USA Luge. Her achievement stands as a testament to discipline and perseverance - qualities that continue to inspire beyond the ice.
