Military Olympian shares love of US, fellow Americans competing at Milan Cortina
NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
U.S. Olympic women’s skeleton athlete and Air Force staff sergeant Kelly Curtis did not get the individual results she was looking for in Milan Cortina.
But she still feels like a winner because she got to represent her country, and she continues to root for her teammates on Team USA, especially the Americans who are challenging Germany in the women’s bobsled race.
“Whenever I wear the uniform that says USA, I feel proud to represent both my country and the U.S. Air Force,” Curtis told Fox News Digital. “But having it happen on the Olympic stage makes it that much more special.”
CLICK HERE TO GET MORE SPORTS NEWS ON FOXNEWS.COM
USA’s Kelly Curtis follows the 3rd round of the Women’s Skeleton at the Cortina Skating Center on day eight of the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy. Picture date: Saturday, February 14, 2026. (Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
Curtis’ patriotism comes at a time when some U.S. Olympians are voicing concerns and criticism about the current state of America under President Donald Trump. Curtis insists that as a loyal member of the U.S. military, he will defend teammates or fellow Americans who seek to exercise their freedom of expression.
“I love the first amendment and I love being able to defend the country no matter what I do in the name of the first amendment,” Curtis said. “My Olympian teammates have the right to say whatever they want, and I will defend their right to do so.”
USA team athletes Hunter Hess, Amber Glenn and Mikaela Shiffrin made statements criticizing the USA’s situation while competing in Italy. Meanwhile, Curtis and U.S. Air Force Olympian Jasmine Jones, who is currently looking to help lead the United States to the podium in bobsled, are joined by ice hockey players Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes, who praised their country in Milan Cortina.
AMERICAN HUNTER HESS RESPONDED TO TRUMP’S ‘LOSER’ CRITICISM WITH THE ‘L’ MOVEMENT AT THE MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS
Kelly Curtis of the United States holds a flag after competing in the women’s 4th skeleton race at the Cortina Skating Center during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 14, 2026. (Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP)
Curtis, who finished 12th in the women’s skeleton race, will be cheering on the bobsled team of Jones and Kaillie Humphries, who are in position to challenge for the medal podium in a crowded field of elite German competitors.
Humphires and Jones finished first in the first heat of Friday’s final and in fourth place in the second heat. They have an inside path to the podium, probably bronze or silver, but their gold dreams are still alive.
“They’re doing well,” Curtis said. “Of course there are winning formulas.”
Curtis hopes to increase that number by the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps, as Curtis and Jones represent two Air Force members competing for Team USA in Milan Cortina.
“We have a small program for the Winter Olympic cycle, but hopefully our program will grow and develop and we will have many more athletes competing in the 2030 games,” he said.
CLICK TO DOWNLOAD FOX NEWS APPLICATION
“This program requires a three-year active duty service commitment, so when we are done we return to the air bases where we served as active duty service members.”
USA team fans can send Jones and fellow airman Kelly Curtis, who also competed in Italy, sent a personalized letter through a program involving a partnership between Team USA and Sandboxx.
Follow Fox News Digital Sports streaming on Xand subscribe Fox News Sports Huddle newsletter.
