Corinne Stoddard wins Olympic short track bronze, first US woman to medal 2010

Friday’s short track competition at the Milan Cortina Olympics was marked by dramatic moments, culminating in a historic breakthrough.

Corinne Stoddard of Team USA stood on the podium, becoming the first American woman to medal in the event in 16 years.

Stoddard, who entered the Games ranked second in the world in short track, took bronze in the 1,500 meters after overcoming a series of early setbacks. On her first day on the ice in Milan, the 24-year-old slipped three times.

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Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates after winning bronze in the women’s 1,500 meter short track speed skating event at the Milan Ice Rink during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games on February 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Matthieu Stockman/Getty Images)

Stoddard found his form and appeared to have had no difficulty getting through the preliminary rounds to reach the final. Once the race began on Friday, she held the lead for much of the race before South Koreans Kim Gil-li and Choi Min-jeong overtook her.

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Kim and Choi won gold and silver respectively in the race. Stoddard thanked her team for helping her after the initial stumbles.

Corinne Th of the United States reacts after competing in the women’s 1,500 meters short track speed skating at the Milan Ice Rink during the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games on February 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

“I think after the 1,000 meters I spent the whole day crying in my bed,” she said. “Basically, I came from the depths of hell to get here, and I couldn’t have done it without my team and my staff and my coaches, everyone, who just lifted me up and [giving] the confidence that I could skate like I know how to after so many terrible races.

Bronze medalist Corinne Stoddard of the United States celebrates on the podium during the medal ceremony for the women’s 1,500 meters short track speed skating at the Milan Ice Rink during the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games on February 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Maja Hitij/Getty Images)

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“Today was just to prove to myself that I can skate under Olympic pressure and prove to myself that I’m still me. And I did it. And I feel like it’s a great way to end such a terrible Olympics.”

With his bronze medal on Friday, Stoddard won his first Olympic medal. The victory also ended a seven-year medal drought for American short track skaters.

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