U.S. Hockey Star Hilary Knight Shares Olympic Journey with Speedskater Partner Brittany Bowe

The five-time Olympian is in a committed relationship with fellow Team USA athlete Brittany Bowe as they both compete in the 2026 Winter Games.

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Hilary Knight, the legendary U.S. women's hockey player, is competing in her fifth Olympics and is trying to lead the U.S. team to a gold medal. Off the ice, Knight is in a committed relationship with U.S. speedskater Brittany Bowe, who is also representing Team USA in the 2026 Winter Games in Italy. The two athletes first connected at the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and now share a home in Salt Lake City as they support each other's Olympic journeys.

Why it matters

Knight and Bowe's relationship highlights the personal connections that can form between athletes competing for the same country, even in different sports. Their bond also showcases the growing acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes at the highest levels of international competition.

The details

Knight, 36, is the first U.S. hockey player (male or female) to compete in five Olympics. She and Bowe, 37, first connected at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, where they would take walks together in the athlete village and talk. The two now share a home in Salt Lake City as they prepare for the 2026 Games in Italy, with each other's families planning to attend events for both of their sports.

  • Hilary Knight is competing in her fifth Olympics in 2026.
  • Brittany Bowe and Hilary Knight first connected at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
  • Knight and Bowe now share a home in Salt Lake City as they train for the 2026 Winter Games.

The players

Hilary Knight

A five-time Olympian and one of the greatest U.S. women's hockey players of all time, Knight is the captain of the U.S. team as they aim for gold in 2026.

Brittany Bowe

A two-time Olympic bronze medalist in speedskating, Bowe is Knight's partner and fellow Team USA athlete competing in the 2026 Winter Games.

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What they’re saying

“She asked if I wanted to go on a walk. That became our routine. We'd walk the Village after dinner and just talk. It was cool living in a bubble and not having outside distractions.”

— Brittany Bowe (Team USA)

“My family is already buying hockey tickets and her family is trying to buy speed skating.”

— Brittany Bowe (Team USA)

What’s next

Knight and Bowe will both compete at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy, where they hope to add to their medal collections and support each other's Olympic dreams.

The takeaway

The relationship between Hilary Knight and Brittany Bowe showcases the growing acceptance and visibility of LGBTQ+ athletes at the highest levels of international competition. Their bond also highlights the personal connections that can form between athletes competing for the same country, even in different sports.