American Ashley Farquharson Wins Rare Olympic Luge Medal

Farquharson's bronze medal marks just the second time an American has earned an Olympic medal in the women's luge singles event.

Published on Feb. 11, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

American luger Ashley Farquharson captured a bronze medal in the women's luge singles event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, becoming just the second American to ever medal in the event. Farquharson, who started luge as an after-school activity in Park City, Utah, was emotional when she saw she had earned her first Olympic medal. Germany's Julia Taubitz won the gold medal, while Latvia's Elena Bota took silver.

Why it matters

Luge is a niche sport in the United States, and American success has been rare. Farquharson's medal marks a significant achievement for USA Luge and could help inspire more American participation and interest in the sport.

The details

Farquharson, 27, had never medaled in any of her first 54 World Cup races before breaking through this season. While she wasn't the fastest luger, her consistent performance was enough to earn her the bronze medal, finishing behind Taubitz and Bota. Farquharson's American teammate Emily Fischnaller finished 12th, while Summer Britcher, a two-time World Cup race winner this season, placed 14th.

  • The 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics took place in February 2026.
  • Farquharson won her bronze medal on Tuesday, February 11, 2026.

The players

Ashley Farquharson

A 27-year-old American luger who won a bronze medal in the women's luge singles event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, becoming just the second American to ever medal in the event.

Julia Taubitz

A German luger who won the gold medal in the women's luge singles event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Elena Bota

A Latvian luger who won the silver medal in the women's luge singles event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, matching her country's best Olympic result.

Emily Fischnaller

An American teammate of Farquharson who finished 12th in the women's luge singles event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics.

Summer Britcher

An American luger and four-time Olympian who finished 14th in the women's luge singles event at the 2026 Milan Cortina Olympics, despite being a two-time World Cup race winner this season.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“It really didn't feel real. And then everyone meeting me on the ice, and the whirlwind it's been since then has really cemented it. For a couple seconds when I was coming up the outrun, I was like, 'that's not real.'”

— Ashley Farquharson (1010wcsi.com)

“This was the dream. And now the dream comes true.”

— Julia Taubitz (1010wcsi.com)

“Super happy for Ashley, very happy for USA Luge. I mean, we are the ones on the sled, but there's a team behind us with everything that we do. So, that's just a testament to all the work that everyone has put into it.”

— Emily Fischnaller, U.S. Teammate (1010wcsi.com)

The takeaway

Farquharson's bronze medal is a significant achievement for American luge, a sport that has traditionally struggled to find success on the Olympic stage. Her performance could help inspire more American participation and interest in the sport, potentially leading to more Olympic medals for the U.S. in the future.