CORTINA D'AMPEZZO, Italy — In a thrilling finish to the two-woman bobsled event at the Milano Cortina 2026 Winter Olympics, Kaillie Armbruster Humphries and Jasmine Jones delivered a bronze medal for Team USA on Saturday, February 21, 2026. The duo clocked a combined time of 3:49.21 across their two heats at the Cortina Sliding Centre, edging out competitors to secure third place behind a German sweep of gold and silver. Humphries, a veteran pilot entering the games as a three-time Olympic gold medalist, also set a track record in the first heat, underscoring her dominance in the sport.
The victory marked another podium finish for American bobsledders at these Olympics, following Humphries' earlier medal in the women's monobob event earlier in the week. According to reports from the scene, the pair's performance was a highlight amid a field of six American entrants, all vying for glory on the high-speed track where sleds can reach velocities up to 93 miles per hour, as noted by the sport's governing body, the International Bobsleigh and Skeleton Federation.
Germany's Kim Kalicki and Leonie Fiebig claimed gold with a time of 3:48.45, while their compatriots Anna Köhler and Josephine Ulrich took silver in 3:48.92, completing the podium sweep for the host nation's rivals. Humphries and Jones' bronze added to Team USA's growing medal tally at the games, which have seen strong showings in sliding sports. The event, a staple of nearly every Winter Olympics since its inclusion, featured the two-woman format alongside the returning women's monobob discipline introduced in 2022.
Humphries, who switched her allegiance from Canada to the United States in 2021, has been a fixture in Olympic bobsled circles. Her partnership with Jones, a rising star in the brakewoman role, proved seamless as they navigated the icy course with precision. Witnesses at the Cortina Sliding Centre described the atmosphere as electric, with cheers echoing through the stands as the Americans crossed the line in third.
Other American teams showed promise but fell short of the podium. Kaysha Love and Azaria Hill, with Love as a two-time Olympian and Hill making her debut, finished fifth in 3:49.71, just half a second behind the medalists. Meanwhile, Jadin O’Brien and Elana Meyers Taylor placed seventh after a challenging second heat where they stumbled at the top of the track, dropping to 12th before recovering somewhat in the final run.
Meyers Taylor, piloting the sled with O’Brien, remains a trailblazer in the sport. Despite the setback, she holds the distinction as the most decorated Black athlete in Winter Olympics history, according to Olympic records. She and speedskating legend Bonnie Blair are tied for the most medals won by an American woman at the Winter Games, with Meyers Taylor's collection including multiple silvers and bronzes from previous outings in PyeongChang, Beijing, and beyond.
The two-woman bobsled competition unfolded over two days, with heats on Friday leading into Saturday's finals. Humphries and Jones had qualified strongly, carrying momentum from their track record in the opening heat. Officials from USA Bobsled praised the team's preparation, noting that the bronze was a testament to the depth of American talent in the discipline.
Broader context for the event highlights the evolution of women's bobsled at the Olympics. The addition of monobob in 2022 has expanded opportunities, and Humphries' success in both formats this week positions her as a key figure in that growth. Jones, in her Olympic debut, credited her partner's experience in post-race comments reported by Fox News Digital, though specific quotes emphasized the team's unity without detailing the mishaps faced by others.
Meanwhile, across the Olympic venue, American Jake Canter captured bronze in the men's snowboard slopestyle earlier the same day, adding to the U.S. medal haul. This cross-sport success underscores Team USA's versatility at Milan Cortina, where sliding and board sports have been particularly fruitful. The bobsled track itself, redesigned for these games, has hosted record-breaking runs, with Humphries and Jones' Heat 1 performance standing out at 1:54.32.
Challenges in the competition were evident for some crews. Meyers Taylor's team, for instance, encountered a rare error in their second heat, sliding prematurely and costing valuable time. Reports indicate the incident was due to a momentary lapse in synchronization, but Meyers Taylor's experience allowed for a partial recovery. Such moments are part of the high-stakes nature of bobsled, where split-second decisions can determine outcomes.
The medal ceremony at the Cortina Sliding Centre was a poignant affair, with Humphries and Jones donning their bronze medals amid national anthem renditions for the German winners. Photographers captured the duo's celebrations, arms raised in triumph, as confetti fell. This bronze not only boosts morale for the remaining events but also highlights the increasing competitiveness of U.S. women's bobsled against European powerhouses like Germany.
Looking ahead, the Olympics continue with four-man bobsled and other sliding events later in the week. Humphries has hinted at potential participation in mixed or additional races, though no confirmations have been made. For Jones, the medal serves as a launching pad for future cycles, potentially positioning her as a pilot in her own right.
The success of Humphries and Jones resonates beyond the track, inspiring young athletes in underrepresented communities. Meyers Taylor's enduring legacy, even in a non-medaling run, reinforces the barriers broken by Black women in winter sports. As the Milano Cortina Games progress, Team USA's bobsled program appears poised for more achievements, building on this bronze that capped a day of American excellence.
In total, the two-woman bobsled event showcased the sport's intensity and the athletes' resilience. With speeds nearing 93 mph and tracks demanding flawless execution, every run carried drama. Humphries' track record and the team's bronze ensure that this Olympic chapter will be remembered as a milestone for U.S. sliding sports.
As the final sleds thundered down the course on February 21, 2026, the Cortina Sliding Centre stood as a symbol of Olympic spirit. For Humphries, Jones, and their teammates, the bronze medal represents not just a personal triumph but a collective step forward for American bobsled on the world stage.