Corinne Stoddard wins Olympic short track bronze, first US woman to medal 2010
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Friday’s short track competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics was defined by dramatic moments and culminated in a historic breakthrough.
Team USA’s Corinne Stoddard finished on the podium, becoming the first American woman to medal in the event in 16 years.
Stoddard, who participated in the games as the world’s second in the short track, overcame a series of early obstacles and won the bronze medal in the 1,500 meters. The 24-year-old slipped three times on his first day on the ice in Milan.
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Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates winning the bronze medal in the short track speed skating women’s 1500 meters at the Milan Ice Skating Arena at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
Stoddard regained his form and appeared to have little trouble in the preliminary rounds to reach the final. When racing began on Friday, he held the lead for most of the event before South Korea’s Kim Gil-li and Choi Min-jeong passed him.
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In the race, Kim and Choi won gold and silver medals respectively. Stoddard said his team helped him through the initial stumbles.
Corinneth, of the United States, reacts after competing in the women’s 1500-meter short track speed skating at the Milan Ice Skating Arena during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Milan, Italy, on February 20, 2026. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
“I think I spent the whole day in bed crying after the 1,000 metres,” he said. “I came through the depths of hell to get here and I couldn’t have done it without my team, my staff, my coaches and everyone lifting me up. [giving] Trust me that after many terrible races I can skate the way I know how.
Bronze medalist Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates on the podium during the women’s 1500-meter short track speed skating medal ceremony at the Milan Ice Skating Arena during the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics on February 20, 2026 in Milan, Italy. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)
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“Today was just to prove to myself that I could skate under Olympic pressure and still be myself. And I did it. And I feel like it’s a great way to end such a terrible Olympics.”
With the bronze medal he won on Friday, Stoddard won his first Olympic medal. The victory also ended a seven-year medal drought for American short track skaters.
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