CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Ashley Farquharson made history on February 10, 2026, becoming the second American woman to win an Olympic medal in luge, and the first in 12 years, by clinching a bronze medal in the women’s singles event at the Cortina Sliding Center. She completed the race with a time of 3:31.582, matching the best finish in the program’s history, previously set by Erin Hamlin, who earned bronze in 2014.
At just 26 years old, Farquharson’s journey in luge began at the age of 11 through an after-school program at Ecker Hill Middle School in Park City, Utah. Reflecting on her hometown’s deep connection with winter sports, she expressed surprise at the lack of awareness about luge beyond her community. “Park City has something like 50 athletes competing in these Games, which could be a country in itself,” she remarked, highlighting her pride in representing her thriving winter sports locale.
In a competitive field, the gold medal went to Germany’s Julia Taubitz, a two-time world champion, who finished with a remarkable time of 3:30.625, maintaining a consistent performance with runs that never fell below 52.730 seconds. Latvia’s Elina Bota secured the silver medal with a finishing time of 3:31.543.
Farquharson started the final two runs in fifth place but made an impressive move to claim third, clocking 52.877 seconds in her third run, and solidified her podium position with a time of 53.909 seconds in her fourth run. American Emily Fischnaller encountered difficulties during her final run after initially moving into fifth but ultimately finished in 12th place at 3:33.035. Another American contender, Summer Britcher, who was seen as a favorite, faced hurdles with a start error and a wall knock that resulted in an eighth-place finish at 3:33.553.
Farquharson’s achievement not only adds to the legacy of American luge but also serves as an inspiration for aspiring athletes, particularly those from her hometown, as she celebrates her remarkable journey to Olympic success.