Ashley Farquharson Secures Rare Olympic Luge Medal at Winter Games
Ashley Farquharson made history at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics by securing a rare Olympic luge medal. This achievement represents a significant milestone for American luge, as it is only the second time an athlete from the United States has won a medal in women’s singles luge.
Ashley Farquharson’s Olympic Journey
Farquharson achieved this feat on February 10, 2026, at the Cortina Sliding Centre in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy. This was a dream come true for the young athlete who began sliding as a casual after-school activity in her hometown of Park City, Utah.
After her final run, Ashley expressed her disbelief. “It really didn’t feel real,” she said. The moment became even more emotional when she was greeted by fellow team members on the ice.
Event Highlights
The women’s singles luge event featured strong competition. Germany’s Julia Taubitz won the gold medal, finishing almost a full second ahead of her competitors. Latvia’s Elena Bota claimed the silver, achieving her country’s best Olympic result in luge.
- Gold Medalist: Julia Taubitz (Germany)
- Silver Medalist: Elena Bota (Latvia)
- Bronze Medalist: Ashley Farquharson (USA)
Historical Significance
This Olympic medal is a landmark achievement for Farquharson, especially as she had not medaled in any of her previous 54 World Cup races. Her triumph establishes her as a formidable competitor in this challenging sport.
Longtime teammate Emily Fischnaller praised Farquharson’s performance, noting the collective effort behind the scenes that contributes to such accomplishments. “We are the ones on the sled, but there’s a team behind us with everything that we do,” she stated.
The Art of Luge
Luge is a unique sport where athletes navigate an icy track at high speeds on sleds. Farquharson’s performance has proven her capabilities and secured her a place in the sport’s history.
As the Olympics continue, the U.S. team looks forward to building on this success and inspiring future athletes in the sport of luge.
