Janine Flock Wins Historic Skeleton Gold at Milano Cortina 2026 | Olympics
- CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Janine Flock of Austria has finally reached the pinnacle of her sliding career, securing gold in the women’s skeleton at the February 14 Olympic...
- Flock’s journey to Olympic gold has been long and distinguished.
- “It doesn’t feel real right now; it’s a dream to do this.
CORTINA D’AMPEZZO, Italy – Janine Flock of Austria has finally reached the pinnacle of her sliding career, securing gold in the women’s skeleton at the Olympic Winter Games in Milan Cortina. The victory, achieved after four consistent runs at the Cortina Sliding Centre, marks a triumphant culmination for the 36-year-old, who had previously experienced heartbreak in multiple Olympic and World Championship appearances.
Flock’s journey to Olympic gold has been long and distinguished. A three-time World Cup overall champion with 15 World Cup race wins and 45 World Cup medals, she had consistently demonstrated her prowess on the international stage. However, a major championship title had eluded her until now. Previous Olympic outings in (10th place), (4th place), and (10th place) had left her with near misses and a burning desire for Olympic glory.
“I can’t believe it,” Flock said after her win. “It doesn’t feel real right now; it’s a dream to do this. I couldn’t tell what my time was. I just knew I put down four really consistent runs and hoped that it was enough.”
The Austrian slider set the tone early, establishing a track record in the first heat and maintaining her lead throughout the competition. Entering the final two runs with a mere 0.04-second advantage over Germany’s Susanne Kreher, Flock held her nerve, delivering a composed final run and securing a combined time of . This secured her victory by a margin of 0.30 seconds.
The German team demonstrated strength in depth, with Susanne Kreher claiming silver in at her debut Winter Games. Jacqueline Pfeifer added to her impressive Olympic record, securing bronze in . This marks Pfeifer’s second Olympic medal, following her silver medal at PyeongChang , making her the second woman to achieve multiple Olympic skeleton medals, joining Britain’s Lizzy Yarnold.
The competition saw a shift in fortunes for some of the pre-Games favorites. Hannah Neise of Germany, the defending champion from , finished fourth, a significant drop from her previous performance. Kimberly Bos of the Netherlands, the world champion and bronze medalist four years ago, also struggled, finishing 13th.
Great Britain’s debutant trio – Tabitha Stoecker, Freya Tarbit, and Amelia Coltman – showcased promising performances, all finishing within the top ten. Stoecker came closest to a podium finish, placing fifth with a time just over a second behind Pfeifer.
The American contingent also had a strong showing. Kelly Curtis, competing as part of her duty with the U.S. Military stationed in Italy, achieved her best Olympic result, finishing 12th. Mystique Ro finished 15th in her first Olympic Games, improving her position from the first day of competition.
For Flock, this victory represents more than just a personal triumph. It is a historic moment for Austrian skeleton, as she becomes the first woman from her nation to win an Olympic medal in the sport. “We wrote history, right? It’s incredible,” Flock stated. “I’m totally emotional. I still can’t believe it. I’m very proud, very happy, and very thankful that we achieved that.”
The skeleton competition will continue on , with the introduction of the mixed team event, offering another opportunity for athletes to compete for Olympic glory.