NEWYou can now listen to PK Press Club articles!
American speed skater Mia Manganello won a bronze medal in the women’s mass start Saturday at the Milan Speed Skating Stadium in her final race.
Manganello, 36, made an effort in the last lap to get on the podium. Dutchwoman Marjike Groenewoud won gold, while Canadian Ivanie Blondin narrowly edged out Manganello to take silver.
For Manganello, it was his first individual medal in three Olympic appearances. She won a bronze medal in the women’s team pursuit at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE SPORTS COVERAGE ON PK Press Club
American Mia Manganello celebrates her bronze medal during the women’s mass start speed skating final at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, February 21, 2026. (Ben Curtis/AP Photo)
However, Manganello’s journey to the podium was not linear. The Crestview, Fla., native competed in two U.S. Olympic trials in speed skating for the 2010 Vancouver Games, but did not make the team.
She then changed sports and became a professional cyclist. After six years, she returned to speed skating in 2016 and made the U.S. team for the Pyeongchang Games and won the aforementioned bronze medal in the women’s team pursuit.
AMERICAN WOMEN’S HOCKEY GOLD MEDALIST TAYLOR HEISE UNVEILS WHAT IT MEANS TO PLAY FOR TEAM USA
American Mia Manganello celebrates her bronze medal on the podium in the mass start speed skating event at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, February 21, 2026. (Luca Bruno/AP Photo)
At the 2022 Beijing Games, Manganello finished fourth in the women’s mass start, narrowly missing the podium. In 2025, Manganello won his first International Skating Union (ISU) World Cup mass start race.
In her last Olympic race, she won bronze.
Manganello’s bronze medal is the first U.S. women’s speed skating medal at the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Games.
Mia Manganello of the United States, left, is congratulated by teammate Greta Myers after winning the bronze medal in the women’s mass start speed skating final at the 2026 Winter Olympics. Milan, Italy, February 21, 2026. (Bernat Armangue/AP Photo)
There was another American in the race, Greta Myers, who finished 12th. Myers and Manganello hugged after the race.
Manganello’s bronze medal gave the United States 31 medals for the Olympics, breaking a tie with Italy for the second most medals. Norway has the most medals with 40.
