Kelly Curtis Emerges as Team USA’s Top-Ranked Skeleton Slider in Milano Cortina
Springfield College graduate and Air Force Staff Sgt. Kelly Curtis returned to the Olympic ice this week, carrying the distinction of being the highest-ranked American on the skeleton World Cup Tour. The 2012 alumna entered the Milano Cortina Games ranked 16th in the world and delivered a confident opening run that left her well positioned as the competition moved forward.
From Springfield track to Olympic sleds
Curtis’ path to skeleton traces back to her multi-event track and field days. After transferring to Springfield College in 2010, she carved out a standout career in the heptathlon, claiming the 2011 Penn Relays title, earning three NCAA Division III All-American honors and finishing fourth in the national championships. Those explosive, multi-discipline skills later drew the attention of coaches who saw potential for sliding sports.
A family legacy and a new sporting direction
Coming from a family with deep ties to Springfield athletics, Curtis said the campus felt like home. Her father and brother both played football there, and that community connection nudged her toward exploring other avenues after college. A suggestion from coaches who spotted similarities between her and former sliding athletes helped push sliding from a curiosity into a pursuit. She started training in bobsled around 2014 and eventually transitioned fully to skeleton.
Military program and life in Italy
Curtis joined the U. S. Air Force World Class Athlete Program in 2020, and in 2022 she moved to northeastern Italy to live and train at Aviano Air Base. The base’s proximity to the northern Italian sliding tracks has become a practical advantage. “I’ve been setting everything up for these games, ” she said, describing how teammates and locals would ask what she was doing in Italy and her reply: “Well, I’m training for these Milano Cortina Games. ” The combination of military support and local access to facilities has been central to her preparation.
Strong opening in Cortina
In the Olympic skeleton field, Curtis produced a composed first run that put her among the top half of the field after the opening heat. That performance underscored both her technical progress on the ice and the benefit of consistent training rounds in Italy. At 37, competing in her second Olympic Games and her first as a mother, she represents a mix of experience and momentum for Team USA.
Looking ahead: experience, momentum and medals
As the competition unfolds, Curtis’ goals are straightforward: use her starts and line choices to chip away at time, stay clean under pressure and climb the leaderboard. Her presence marks a milestone for Springfield College athletics — she is the first alum from the school to compete in multiple Winter Olympics — and she remains a key piece of a broader U. S. military contingent on the roster. With world-class training, military support and a track record of rapid starts in sliding sports, Curtis will be one to watch in the remaining heats.
Whether she builds on her opening run to challenge for a podium spot or cements another strong Olympic showing, Curtis’ story is as much about perseverance and transition as it is about speed down an icy track.
