- Today
- Holidays
- Birthdays
- Reminders
- Cities
- Atlanta
- Austin
- Baltimore
- Berwyn
- Beverly Hills
- Birmingham
- Boston
- Brooklyn
- Buffalo
- Charlotte
- Chicago
- Cincinnati
- Cleveland
- Columbus
- Dallas
- Denver
- Detroit
- Fort Worth
- Houston
- Indianapolis
- Knoxville
- Las Vegas
- Los Angeles
- Louisville
- Madison
- Memphis
- Miami
- Milwaukee
- Minneapolis
- Nashville
- New Orleans
- New York
- Omaha
- Orlando
- Philadelphia
- Phoenix
- Pittsburgh
- Portland
- Raleigh
- Richmond
- Rutherford
- Sacramento
- Salt Lake City
- San Antonio
- San Diego
- San Francisco
- San Jose
- Seattle
- Tampa
- Tucson
- Washington
Willowbrook Today
By the People, for the People
Suburban Chicago Speedskater Makes Olympic Debut
Sarah Warren cherishes first Olympic experience after long road to get there.
Published on Feb. 16, 2026
Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›
U.S. speedskater Sarah Warren, a native of suburban Willowbrook, Illinois, competed in her first Olympic event on Sunday, finishing the 500-meter race with a time of 39.19 seconds. While she did not threaten the podium, Warren said the experience of simply making it to the Olympic starting line was everything to her after overcoming significant adversity, including eight knee operations, to reach this milestone.
Why it matters
Warren's story highlights the perseverance and dedication required to achieve an Olympic dream, especially for athletes who transition to new sports later in their careers. Her journey also showcases the important role that family and community support can play in helping athletes overcome major obstacles to reach the highest levels of their sport.
The details
After starring as a college soccer player at the University of Illinois, Warren transitioned to speedskating and had to go through a staggering eight knee operations just to make the U.S. Olympic team. She secured her spot on Team USA with a second-place finish at the U.S. speedskating trials in Wisconsin.
- On Sunday, February 15, 2026, Sarah Warren competed in the 500-meter speedskating event at the Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina, Italy.
The players
Sarah Warren
A U.S. speedskater from the Chicago suburb of Willowbrook, Illinois who made her Olympic debut at the 2026 Winter Games in Milan-Cortina.
What they’re saying
“It means everything. You get to the line and you are officially an Olympian. You hear your name being called and you hear everyone cheering and I have to think I had 40 people in the stands.”
— Sarah Warren (nbcchicago.com)
“That's the village that got me here. They never wavered. They never left, and they pulled me out when I thought I couldn't do it.”
— Sarah Warren (nbcchicago.com)
“Thank you is never enough, but I got to live out my dream today and it was all because of them.”
— Sarah Warren (nbcchicago.com)
What’s next
Warren plans to continue training and competing in hopes of qualifying for the 2030 Winter Olympics.
The takeaway
Sarah Warren's inspiring journey to the Olympic stage, overcoming major injuries and setbacks with the unwavering support of her loved ones, serves as a powerful reminder of the determination and community it takes to achieve one's athletic dreams.
