U.S. Olympic women’s skeleton athlete Kelly Curtis may have fallen short of the podium at the 2026 Winter Olympics, but she says the experience still counts as a victory.

Curtis, an Air Force Staff Sgt., reflected on the honor of representing the United States on the world’s biggest stage, emphasizing pride, service, and perspective over results. While the outcome wasn’t what she hoped for, she described wearing the U.S. colors and competing for her country as a defining achievement.

In a sport measured by hundredths of a second, Curtis’s message resonated beyond times and rankings — a reminder that for many Olympians, the greatest win is the chance to represent something bigger than themselves. 🇺🇸