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U.S. Olympic skeleton athlete and Air Force master sergeant Kelly Curtis didn’t get the results she was looking for individually at Milan Cortina.
But she still leaves feeling like a winner because she was able to represent her country and continues to lean on her teammates on Team USA, especially the Americans who are currently challenging Germany in women’s bobsleigh.
“Every time I wear the uniform that says USA, I am proud to represent both my country and the United States Air Force,” Curtis told PK Press Club Digital. “But having him on the Olympic stage makes it even more special.”
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USA’s Kelly Curtis after the third heat of the women’s skeleton at the Cortina Sliding Center on the eighth day of the Milan Cortina 2026 Olympic Winter Games, Italy. Photo date: Saturday February 14, 2026. (Andrew Milligan/PA Images via Getty Images)
Curtis’ patriotism comes at a time when some U.S. Olympians have expressed concern and criticism about the current state of America under President Donald Trump. Curtis, as a loyal member of the U.S. military, insists she will defend any teammates or fellow Americans seeking to exercise their freedom of speech.
Team USA athletes Hunter Hess, Amber Glenn and Mikaela Shiffrin all made statements criticizing the state of the United States while competing in Italy. Meanwhile, Curtis and fellow US Air Force Olympian Jasmine Jones, who is currently looking to help the United States reach the podium in bobsleigh, are joined by ice hockey players Brady Tkachuk and Quinn Hughes to praise their country in Milan Cortina.
AMERICAN HUNTER HESS RESPONDS TO CRITICISM OF TRUMP’S ‘LOSER’ WITH ‘L’ GESTURE AT MILAN CORTINA OLYMPICS
Kelly Curtis of the United States waves a flag after competing in the women’s skeleton series 4 at the Cortina Sliding Center during the Milan Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games in Cortina d’Ampezzo on February 14, 2026. (Stefano RELLANDINI / AFP)
After finishing 12th in women’s skeleton, Curtis will cheer on the bobsleigh team of Jones and Kaillie Humphries, who are in position to challenge for a podium among a crowded field of elite German rivals.
Humphires and Jones finished in first place in the first heat of the final on Friday, then fourth place in the second heat. They have an inside path to reach the podium, probably a bronze or silver medal, but their dream of gold is still alive.
“They have a good thing going,” Curtis said. “They certainly have a winning formula.”
As Curtis and Jones represent the only two Air Force members competing for Team USA in Milan Cortina, Curtis hopes to increase that number by the 2030 Winter Games in the French Alps.
“We have a small program for the Winter Olympics cycle, but we hope that our program will grow and develop, and that we will have many more athletes competing in the 2030 Games,” she said.
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“This program requires a three-year active duty commitment, so once we are finished, we return to our air bases where we serve as active duty members.”
Team USA fans can send Jones and fellow Airman Kelly Curtis, who is also competing in Italy, received a personalized letter through a program involving a partnership between Team USA and Sandboxx.
