Ahora rentando apartamentos de 2 habitaciones • Excelente ubicación • Vida asequible
Her dreams of a gold medal were dashed when she was bumped into the ice in 2022. Here’s how she did on Thursday.
MILAN, Metropolitan City of Milan — The fastest short-track speedskaters in the world hit the ice during the women’s 500m event at the 2026 Winter Olympics on Thursday.
Team USA athletes Kristen Santos-Griswold of Connecticut and Julie Letai of Massachusetts were both vying for the podium and the chance to medal on Thursday. The fight to win is extremely personal for Santos-Griswold, after her dreams of medaling disappeared in an instant at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing.
“She appeared to be in medal position with a lap to go before being bumped by another skater, sending both to the ice,” Team USA writer Paul Bowker wrote. “A bona fide medal contender going into the Games, Santos finished fourth, the closest she would get to a medal in her five events.”
Santos-Griswold’s dreams, unfortunately, weren’t realized on Thursday after her balance was thrown off during semifinals and when she failed to qualify for the finals. She also a rough start in the quarterfinals, when she was pushed down and forced to restart the race three times.
Letai did not advance to the semifinals after falling during the quarterfinal race.
Ahead of the competition, two-time Team USA Olympic speed skating medalist Katherine Reutter-Adamek told commentators that her full attention would be on Santos-Griswold during the race, especially given the skater’s previous wins.
“Two years ago at the world championships, she got a medal in every single distance,” Reutter said. “Last year, she won the world tour, the second time a female has ever done it.”
Santos-Griswold had some setbacks during her 2025 season, according to NBC. She caught stomach flu during the World Short Track Speed Skating Championships and was sidelined by a back injury during the national championships. But that didn’t stop her from winning two bronze medals at the World Tour, including one in the 500m.
Letai has previously called the short track speedskating event a combination of “demolition derby and NASCAR.” She is a two-time Olympian, previously placing 21st in the 1500m event at the 2022 Winter Olympics in Beijing, according to her Team USA bio.
She made her first U.S. national team in 2019 and has since competed at four world championships for Team USA, including winning a silver medal on the women’s relay team at the 2024 world championships.
💌 Mantente al Día con lo Último del Entretenimiento Latino
Recibe noticias exclusivas de celebridades latinas, chismes virales, belleza, moda y entretenimiento — directo en tu correo.
Sin spam. Solo lo mejor de Atlanta Latinos Magazine.
