Corinne Stoddard wins short track bronze at the Olympic Games, the first American woman to win a medal in 2010

Team USA’s Corinne Stoddard took the podium, becoming the first American woman to win a 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 Milanthe 24-year-old slipped three times.

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

Stoddard regained her form and seemed to have little difficulty skating through the preliminary rounds to reach the final. Once the race started on Friday, she held the lead for most of the event before being overtaken by South Koreans Kim Gil Lee and Choi Min-jeong.

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Kim and Choi won gold and silver respectively in the race. Stoddard credited her team with helping her after the early hiccups.

Corinne of the United States reacts after competing in the women’s 1,500 meter speed skating at the Milan Ice Rink during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics on February 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Maja Hettig/Getty Images)

“I think after the 1,000-meter race, I spent the whole day crying in bed,” she said. “I came from the depths of hell to get here, and I couldn’t have done it without my team, the staff, the coaches, everyone, just lifting me up and (giving me) the confidence that I could ski the way 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 women’s 1,500-meter short track speed skating at the Milan Ice Rink during the 2026 Olympics in Milan Cortina on February 20, 2026, in Milan, Italy. (Maja Hettig/Getty Images)

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

With her bronze on Friday, Stoddard secured first place Olympic medal. The win also ended a seven-year medal drought for American short track skaters.

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