Olympian Sophia Kirkby to Spend Valentine's Day with Superfan

The 'Most Eligible Bachelorette' at the Olympic Village will go on a date with a fan who flew to Milan to meet her.

Published on Feb. 14, 2026

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Luger Sophia Kirkby, who competed in the first-ever women's doubles luge event at the Winter Olympics, has been dubbed the 'Most Eligible Bachelorette' at the Olympic Village. After announcing on Instagram that she would be chronicling her dating life at the Games, Kirkby was flooded with over 2,000 message requests from interested suitors. She has set up several dates, including one with a fan from the U.S. who flew to Milan just to meet her. Kirkby and her new date will be spending Valentine's Day together.

Why it matters

Kirkby's story highlights the unique dating dynamics that can emerge at the Olympic Games, where athletes from around the world are sequestered together. As one of the few remaining Olympians still staying in the village, Kirkby has had the opportunity to explore her options, drawing significant attention on social media.

The details

Kirkby, a 24-year-old luger from upstate New York, completed her Olympic run on Thursday, finishing 5th with her partner Chevonne Forgan. After announcing on Instagram that she would be documenting her dating life at the Games, Kirkby was inundated with over 2,000 message requests from interested men. She has set up four dates so far, including one with a fan from the U.S. who flew to Milan just to meet her. Kirkby and her new date will be spending Valentine's Day together.

  • Kirkby completed her Olympic run on Thursday, February 13, 2026.
  • Kirkby announced on Instagram on February 4, 2026 that she would be chronicling her dating life at the Winter Games.
  • Kirkby's date with the fan from the U.S. is scheduled for Valentine's Day, February 14, 2026.

The players

Sophia Kirkby

A 24-year-old luger from Ray Brook, New York, near Lake Placid, who competed in the first-ever women's doubles luge event at the Winter Olympics, finishing 5th with her partner Chevonne Forgan.

Chevonne Forgan

Kirkby's partner in the women's doubles luge event, who is from Massachusetts.

Jake Pates

An Olympic snowboarder whom Kirkby reached out to via Instagram, but he did not take her up on the offer.

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What they’re saying

“He is a fan that jumped into my DMs two weeks ago. He said, 'Hey, I just found out I have the 13th to 16th off. Would it be weird if I came and booked an Airbnb five minutes from you?' And I was like, 'Go ahead.' He's actually from the United States. He's just currently living in the UK. And he flew here just to see me.”

— Sophia Kirkby (New York Post)

“I would estimate by now, I have over 2,000 message requests. The thing that I loved was people that just gave me a full description of their name, height, age, occupation.”

— Sophia Kirkby (New York Post)

What’s next

Kirkby plans to continue exploring her dating options during her remaining time at the Olympic Village.

The takeaway

Kirkby's story highlights the unique social dynamics that can emerge at the Olympic Games, where athletes from around the world are sequestered together. As one of the few remaining Olympians still staying in the village, Kirkby has had the opportunity to connect with a wide range of potential suitors, drawing significant attention on social media.